A military court in Burkina Faso has convicted several members of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) for murder and the mutilation of a corpse in two communities within the Boucle du Mouhoun region.

The fighters were found guilty on Monday during a mobile court session held by the Ouagadougou Military Court, which has been increasing efforts to address rights violations committed during counterterrorism operations.

The ruling underscores the government’s commitment to accountability within auxiliary security forces, even as the country continues to battle escalating militant violence.