Massacre in Burkina Faso
A terrorist group has carried out an attack on a village in Burkina Faso killing over 100 innocent people. Bishop Laurent Dabiré spoke to ACN about the situation in Burkina Faso and the plight of the West African country’s Christians.
By ACN Staff
Refugees close to Kaya, Burkina Faso. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
On the 5 June, terrorists killed over 100 people in an attack on Solhan, a village located in eastern Burkina Faso. Laurent Dabiré, the Catholic Bishop of Dori, spoke to Aid to the Church in Need after the atrocity:
The Bishop of Dori. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
“The people are speechless. Particularly those living in the Sahel, where the massacre occurred, are asking themselves, ‘Who will be the next target?’ The reaction of the Catholic faithful mirrors that of the rest of the country. Catholics were not the direct target. The massacre was a sweeping attack that did not differentiate by ethnicity, sex or religion.”
The exact number of people who were killed by the terrorists is not yet known. Estimates are currently ranging from 100 to 170. The bishop told ACN that there are 4 Christians among the dead. The bishop also explained that Solhan had previously a vibrant Christian community. Unfortunately, given the instability in the region many Christians have fled Solhan. The bishop explains further:
“Just like everyone else in Burkina who is being targeted by terrorism, the Christians were overcome by fear. However, as Christians, they have more reason to fear a forced imposition of Islam. Their religious freedom and even their lives are at stake.”
The bishop also told ACN who the potential attackers might be:
“Who carried out the attack and for what reason has yet to be determined. However, the most plausible explanation is that it was the armed groups who have been terrorising the country since 2015. This is another of their atrocities and their way of showing their strength and getting people to talk about them…Burkina has become the target. We are the neighbours of Mali and Niger, countries that are facing similar problems. The attacks follow the logic of conquest.”
Both affiliates of Al-Qaeda and ISIS have been conducting terrorist campaigns in Burkina Faso. The majority of Burkina Faso’s population are Muslims, but there is also a substantial Christian minority (over 20% and mostly Catholic), as well as a large number of people who practice traditional African religion.
ACN has been supporting the Catholic Church in Burkina Faso by helping those who have experienced Islamist violence to return to normal life. To achieve this aim, a primary focus of its relief efforts is on projects that work to alleviate trauma.