MORE THAN A DOZEN KILLED IN ATTACK ON CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BURKINA FASO

Sun 25 February 2024:

In the conflict-torn northern area of Burkina Faso, gunmen ambushed a community gathered for mass at a church, killing at least fifteen Catholic attendees in a village, church officials said.

The violence that occurred on Sunday in the village of Essakane was described as a “terrorist attack” by Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, vicar-general of the Catholic Diocese of Dori, where the incident took place. Twelve people died at the scene of the attack, and three more people passed away while receiving medical attention for their wounds.

He said two others were injured in the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting.

“In this painful circumstance, we invite you to pray for the rest in God for those who have died in faith, for the healing of the wounded and … for the conversion of those who continue to sow death and desolation in our country,” Sawadogo said in a statement.

About half of Burkina Faso is outside government control, as armed groups have ravaged the country for years.

The country’s military rulers have struggled to restore peace in violent areas since the first coup in January 2022.

The country’s porous borders with Mali and Niger, both of which are ruled by military leaders and experience security challenges, have made the security situation worse.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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