From 19 to 21 November, the Military Court of Ouagadougou held a mobile hearing at the Nazi Boni camp in Dédougou, during which 12 cases were examined, resulting in heavy sentences against members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), L’Express du Faso reported.
One of the most notable cases involved four VDP members initially charged with murder. The military court ultimately reclassified the charges as desecration and mutilation of a corpse, acts committed on the remains of an individual suspected of being a terrorist.
Two other VDP members from Tchériba were found guilty of manslaughter. They had arrested several individuals during a security check, who were found dead the following day. The defendants received 11-year prison sentences, including four years suspended for one and three years suspended for the other.
In response to these abuses, military prosecutor Commander Ahmed Ferdinand Sountoura reminded the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) and VDP members of the need to strictly respect rules of engagement, particularly regarding the use of firearms. He stressed that their mission must never be driven by revenge or ethnic motives.
He also warned against any excessive use of force, recalling that the army is not above the law and that military justice is committed to prosecuting abuses committed against civilians. Finally, the prosecutor encouraged the public to continue cooperating with forces involved in counterterrorism efforts by providing reliable information.
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