Burkina Faso: Catholic Church Attack Kills at Least 15

Facts

At least 15 people have been killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a Catholic church during Sunday mass in the northeastern part of Burkina Faso, near the borders with Mali and Niger.¹
The vicar of the diocese of Dori, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, condemned what he described as a 'terrorist attack' in the village of Essakane. He called for peace and security in the West African country, denouncing 'those who continue to wreak death and desolation' in Burkina Faso.²
Sunday's attack is the latest in a string of atrocities in Burkina Faso that's linked to Islamist terror groups with links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, which have reportedly captured large swathes of territory and displaced millions across the Sahel.³
Last year, the bishop of the Dori diocese, Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré, voiced understanding for worshippers no longer attending services for fear of terrorist attacks, claiming the violence targets citizens 'who do not profess the same Islam as the jihadists, including Muslims.'⁴
According to a report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the number of people killed by jihadists in Burkina Faso had almost increased by 300% compared to the previous 18 months before the January 2022 coup.⁵
Around 64% of Burkina Faso's population are Muslims, 9% belong to traditional African religions, and 26% are Christians — comprising one of the largest Christian populations in the Sahel region.⁶

Narrative A, as provided by Crux. Not only are Christians representing about a quarter of Burkina Faso's population, but the Catholic Church also plays a vital role in providing basic health and education services. For that reason, the socio-economic impact of the targeted attacks on Christians is devastating for an already impoverished population. The coup government had vowed to tackle the country's security problem, but the deteriorating situation proves the regime's utter failure to protect the population. It's the Christian community that's paying a disproportionately high price for this lack of security.
Narrative B, as provided by BNN. The attack is the latest evidence that Islamist extremists are intent on tearing apart the fabric of Burkina Faso's society, which is known for its centuries-long peaceful coexistence of different religious and ethnic groups. However, the people of Burkina Faso will not allow their cultural heritage to be destroyed, and the government has promised to take all possible action against the perpetrators of these atrocities. Yet the recent attack also stresses the urgent need for international cooperation, as terror isn't only a challenge for Burkina Faso but for the entire international community.