In north-eastern Burkina Faso on Sunday, a tragic event unfolded as gunmen attacked a Catholic church during Sunday worship, leaving at least 15 people dead and two injured.
The assault occurred in Essakane village, located in Oudalan province near Mali’s border. Details about the attack remain scarce.
A church representative suspected the assailants to be Islamist militants, although no official confirmation has been provided by the authorities in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, the head of the local diocese, revealed that 12 individuals lost their lives immediately, with three more dying later in the hospital.
In response to this sorrowful event, Abbot Sawadogo stated, “In this painful circumstance, we invite you to pray for those who died in faith, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolidation of grieving hearts.”
This tragic incident adds to a series of atrocities in Burkina Faso attributed to Islamist militants.
Over a third of the country is currently under insurgent control, with authorities engaged in combating Islamist factions associated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
These groups have seized significant territory and displaced millions of people in the Sahel region.
In recent years, there has been a disturbing trend of attacks targeting churches resulting in the deaths of numerous worshippers.
Burkina Faso, governed by a military regime, recently withdrew from the regional bloc, Ecowas, alongside Mali and Niger.
Their decision stemmed from perceived inadequate support from Ecowas in the fight against terrorism.
These three nations, led by military juntas, had been previously suspended from the bloc, which had been urging a return to democratic governance.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s military-backed president, Ibrahim Traoré, mentioned the possibility of deploying Russian troops to combat jihadists within the country if necessary.
