The actions of Burkina Faso’s military junta, including the forced conscription and alleged torture of critics, have sparked widespread international condemnation. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused the junta of systematically targeting dissenters through abduction and military service, citing instances of severe abuse and intimidation. Critics like Arouna Loure, an anaesthesiologist, have recounted harrowing experiences of being forcibly taken from hospitals and subjected to military training under harsh conditions.
The junta’s crackdown on opposition figures underscores its authoritarian approach since seizing power in 2022, exacerbating tensions amid ongoing security challenges and a persistent insurgency. Despite calls for accountability and transparency, junta officials have remained silent on the allegations, further fueling concerns about human rights abuses and the erosion of civil liberties in Burkina Faso.