The NGO had demanded the Burkinabe ruling military junta hold an investigation after videos surfaced on social media purporting to show dozens of bloodied bodies.

The junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, has denied taking part in any massacre but the judiciary did open an investigation into claims of calls for the "extermination" of Fulani.

"The Burkina Faso army led and participated in the massacre of more than 130, possibly many more, ethnic Fulani civilians by pro-government militias in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March 2025" HRW said in a statement.

The military backed by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) armed militia created to fight jihadist insurgents have been accused of several civilian massacres.

HRW, which stated it had interviewed some 30 people in connection with the massacre, said the March killings came amid "a major weeks-long campaign led by Burkinabe special forces that resulted in widespread civilian deaths and massive displacement of Fulani people".

Testimonies gathered from local people indicated that the army and the VDP had in a pincer movement barred escape routes to those trying to flee the violence, with hundreds trapped and "at least 130" killed as the campaign moved northwards from Banwa province towards Sourou province, it added.

The rights group said villagers from Banwa province described military operations over at least six days, beginning with the VDP shooting in the air or at civilians and looting their cattle, forcing them to flee.

The NGO quoted one Fulani herder as saying the operations forced "thousands of Fulani families from over 20 villages (to) head for Mali in search of protection," across the border.

HRW senior regional researcher Ilaria Allegrozzi stated that "the government needs to impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible".

She added that the scope of the atrocities committed by government forces, militias and Islamist armed groups in western Burkina Faso remained "grossly overlooked".