Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis strongly condemned the recent “abominable” raids by jihadist militias in the African country, which have claimed the lives of at least 200 people, including many women and children. In the month of August, the extremist militants carried out several actions in various areas of the country.
By: Marco Guerra – Vatican News
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Pope Francis expressed his sorrow after the Angelus prayer for the serious terrorist attack that struck a village in Burkina Faso a week ago. The Pope condemned the action and expressed solidarity with the entire nation:
“With deep sorrow, I learned that on Saturday, August 24, in the municipality of Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed and many others wounded in a terrorist attack. In condemning these abominable attacks against human life, I express my solidarity with the whole nation and my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. May the Virgin Mary help the beloved people of Burkina Faso to find peace and security.”
The jihadists’ motorcycle assault
On August 24 and 25, Burkina Faso witnessed two of the worst terrorist attacks in its history, resulting in the deaths of over 200 people; unofficial sources claim the total victims were around 300. The attack on Saturday, August 25, the deadliest, was carried out by about a hundred jihadists who stormed the town of Barsalogho, 30 km north of Kaya, the capital of the Centre-Nord region. Among the approximately 200 victims (140 wounded) were women, children, and the elderly. Aid to the Church in Need claims that at least 22 of the dead were Christian faithful. According to survivors’ accounts, the attack lasted for hours and began when over 100 jihadists appeared on motorcycles and opened fire with automatic weapons on civilians and soldiers who were digging defensive trenches to protect themselves from terrorist attacks.
UN condemnation
The massacre in Barsalogho, claimed by a group linked to Al-Qaeda, was recently condemned by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed “solidarity with the transitional authorities in their fight against terrorism” and urged them “to ensure that those responsible for these despicable actions are held accountable.”
Acs denounces another attack on a Christian community
The following day, Sunday, August 25, Islamist militants attacked the village of Sanaba in the diocese of Nouna, in the west of the country. According to Aid to the Church in Need, a large group of militants surrounded the community, gathered the population, and tied all males over the age of 12 who were Christian, traditional believers, or generally considered opponents of jihadist ideology. The terrorists then led the men to a nearby Protestant church and slaughtered 26 of them, including several Catholics.
Flare-up of Islamist violence
In general, throughout August, Burkina Faso has been marked by violence from Islamic extremists. Previously, two terrorist attacks were carried out in the Nayala province, in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. On August 4, armed men entered the village of Nimina and abducted over 100 men aged between 16 and 60, whose current whereabouts are unknown. Subsequently, on August 20, local sources reported to Aid to the Church in Need about attacks in the villages of Mogwentenga and Gnipiru, after which part of the population fled.
