Burkina Faso: Islamic Terrorism Has Become Ubiquitous

The 34 people killed in two jihadist attacks are just the latest victims of the instability that has taken hold since 2015 in Burkina Faso, where 40% of the territory is out of control according to the Ouagadougou authorities themselves.

At least 22 people died and many more were injured in the assault in the town of Bourasso – in the northwest. According to the testimony of a survivor, “the jihadists first fired in the air in the village on the night of Sunday July 3, then fired randomly at people.”

The other attack took place in Namissiguima, in the province of Yatenga, in the north of the country, with the death of 12 people including some members of the village self-defense militias formed by the government to try to confront the jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda or ISIS.

Testimony of a Burkinabé Priest

A priest testifies. “The situation in the country continues to deteriorate. No place is accessible. It is no longer possible to go to the villages to celebrate the Eucharist and the other sacraments: the roads are impassable because of the terrorists. Pastoral work is destabilized. Many catechists had to flee.”

This dramatic testimony is that of Fr. Pierre Balima, a Burkinabe priest studying pastoral liturgy in Padua. The priest recounted the sufferings that Christians are living in his country.

“Two parishes have been closed and, in the others, the priests can no longer go to the villages. If you need to travel, go to another parish, or meet the bishop at the cathedral, you need an army escort. On the road, you take great risks and you never know if you will arrive at your destination alive.

“All pastoral activities are suspended: no Masses in the villages, no catechism, no meetings of Catholic movements,” continues Fr. Balima; “European missionaries have been asked to leave the diocese to go to safer areas.”

“Terrorists use kidnappings, executions of influential people (priests, catechists, religious leaders, teachers, administrators, etc.). They frighten the population with threats and kill all those who do not obey,” continues the priest.

“They often break into Christian places of worship during celebrations, forcing people to abandon Christian practice to embrace the Muslim religion.”

The account then details the burning of several churches in the villages: “In March alone, they burned two of them. They killed 37 soldiers and more than 10 civilians. Several young people were kidnapped. Almost all schools, outside the big cities, are closed,” explains the missionary.

Three priests were killed. Fr. Joël Yougbare, a priest in my diocese, was kidnapped three years ago and we have not heard from him since. “Given the serious danger we are in, we have been asked to close the parishes. The proposal was rejected by the bishop and all the priests. We continue our mission, although with many limitations and a lot of fragility.”

Burkina Faso has always been a country of peace and joy, despite poverty, but since 2015 it has been under pressure from terrorist attacks. The first attack took place in the parish of Fr. Balima, 150 meters from the presbytery.

“For several days we lived in anguish: every night we had to turn off the light and hide under the bed. Then terrorism gradually spread to the whole country and the Sahel region, where my parish of Djibo is located, is among the most affected.”