Burkina Faso has witnessed a horrific escalation in violence, with Islamist extremists killing approximately 100 Christians and abducting many more over the past three months. The latest attack occurred on Sunday, August 25, when insurgents seized 26 Christians in Sanaba, located in western Burkina Faso. The victims were then taken to a church, where they were brutally murdered.
This tragic incident follows the deadliest terrorist assault in the country’s history. On August 24, a devastating attack in Barsalogho, central Burkina Faso, claimed the lives of at least 150 people, with some reports suggesting the death toll could be as high as 250.
Reports from local church officials to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) indicate that further violence has erupted in Nouna Diocese, near the western border with Mali. An anonymous source, who requested to remain unidentified for security reasons, revealed that around 5,000 women and children have fled to Nouna city seeking safety. The source noted the absence of men among the refugees, raising concerns about their fate—whether they have escaped, are hiding, or have been killed.
In recent months, numerous places of worship, including Catholic, Protestant, and animist churches, have been destroyed or looted. In Zekuy, a local catechist managed to escape with the Blessed Sacrament and some parishioners after hearing the sound of approaching motorcycles. Despite this, the church was vandalized, religious images were desecrated, and inscriptions were painted over a fresco of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The recent surge in extremist violence is part of an ongoing armed conflict that has plunged Burkina Faso deeper into crisis since 2015. Over the past year, ACN has supported 76 projects in the country, aiming to assist the Church and alleviate the suffering caused by the violence.
This escalation of violence highlights the urgent need for international attention and support to address the humanitarian crisis and provide protection to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Burkina Faso.