WEEKLY TOP NEWS – Amnesty International says Armed groups committing war crimes in besieged localities across Burkina Faso

In a new report, Amnesty International says Ansaroul Islam and other armed groups are enforcing brutal sieges in localities across Burkina Faso committing war crimes and human rights abuses, including killings of civilians, abductions of women and girls, attacks on civilian infrastructure and attacks on supply convoys, resulting in severe humanitarian consequences.

Spread across the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert, the Sahel region has been a hot spot for violent extremism, with armed groups often taking advantage of little or no government and security presence to target helpless communities.

But the conflict has worsened in recent months and analysts blame the trend on the absence of institutional reforms, failed peace efforts as well as rampant coups by militaries in places like Burkina Faso and Mali. The violence also includes alleged war crimes, which rights groups say are often covered up.

Let’s weigh in on these issues as we bring on board our guests.

Joining us is the Senior researcher on human rights in the SAHEL at Amnesty International Ousman Diallo and Youssouf OUATTARA head of the Center for Information, Training and Studies on the Budget (CIFOEB).