They fled violence; now the government in Burkina Faso tries to hide their existence

Wed Jan 08 06:32:14 UTC 2025: ## Burkina Faso’s Hidden Crisis: Thousands of Displaced People Face Neglect in Ouagadougou

**Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso –** Over 2.1 million people are internally displaced in Burkina Faso due to years of extreme violence perpetrated by Islamic extremist groups and government-affiliated forces. While the military junta, which seized power two years ago, claims improving security, the plight of those who have fled to the capital, Ouagadougou, reveals a starkly different reality.

These displaced individuals, many of whom are Fulani, face discrimination, unemployment, and lack of access to basic services. While the government acknowledges approximately 30,000 displaced people in Ouagadougou, aid groups estimate the number is far higher. The lack of official displacement camps forces many to live on the streets or in precarious conditions, creating what one aid worker calls “a ticking bomb.”

The situation is further complicated by the junta’s strategy of military escalation and the recruitment of poorly trained militias, which has exacerbated ethnic tensions. Attacks on civilians by these militias have significantly increased since the coup. The Fulani, long neglected by the government, are often caught in the crossfire, targeted by both extremists and pro-government forces, leading to radicalization among some.

Four displaced Fulani individuals interviewed by the Associated Press described facing discrimination in Ouagadougou, struggling to find work and enroll their children in school. One 27-year-old cattle trader recounted the arbitrary arrests, beatings, and humiliation inflicted by government forces on Fulani people in his region. He ultimately fled his home after his father urged him to escape the violence.

Despite the escalating violence and the vast areas controlled by extremist groups in the country, the reality of the displacement crisis is largely obscured in Ouagadougou. The lack of official support for the displaced, coupled with restrictions on international aid organizations, leaves thousands vulnerable and highlights a humanitarian crisis hidden within the capital city.

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