Burkina Faso churches attacked as violence spikes
Until the past two years, Burkina Faso had long been known for interreligious peaceful co-existence.
The Sahel region in northwest Africa. Map by Daniel C. Richardson from multiple sources, including by Munion via Creative Commons license.
Gunmen have attacked and set fire to two churches in northern Burkina Faso in recent weeks, killing 12 people as they left worship, including the pastor of each congregation.
On May 12, two dozen militants surrounded a Catholic church and executed six people in the small town of Dablo, Vatican News reported.
“From reports by eyewitnesses, it appears that their target was the 34-year- old Burkinabe priest, Father Siméon Yampa, in charge of interreligious dialogue in his diocese,” Vatican News wrote. Through increased attacks on Christian communities, militants “seek to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims who have lived in peace for ages.”
