A devastating assault on a Catholic church in northeastern Burkina Faso has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 15 lives, with two others wounded.
The attack occurred amidst Sunday worship in Essakane village, situated in the Oudalan province near the Mali border. Details surrounding the incident remain scant.
Suspected militants are believed to be the perpetrators of this heinous act, as reported by a church official. As of now, there has been no immediate response from authorities in Ouagadougou, the capital of this West African nation.
In a statement issued by Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, head of the local diocese, it was revealed that 12 individuals succumbed to their injuries on the spot, while three others passed away later at the hospital.
This tragic incident marks the latest in a series of atrocities linked to militants in Burkina Faso, where over a third of the territory is currently under insurgent control.
The country’s authorities have been engaged in a protracted battle against factions associated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, who have seized significant portions of land and displaced millions within the Sahel region.
Over the past few years, churches have frequently become targets, resulting in the loss of numerous worshippers.
Burkina Faso, governed by a military junta, recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), along with neighbouring Mali and Niger, citing insufficient support from the bloc in combating terrorism as one of the reasons for their departure.
These three nations, under junta rule, had previously been suspended from ECOWAS, which had been urging a return to democratic governance.
In a recent development, President Ibrahim Traoré, backed by the military, indicated the possibility of deploying Russian troops to combat militants in Burkina Faso, if deemed necessary.