Christians in Burkina Faso call for prayer for their attackers

While Jesus’ command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44-45) is never easy, obeying those words can be especially challenging in situations of brutal and incomprehensible violence.

But that is the prayer of our sisters and brothers in Burkina Faso after a suspected Islamic extremist attack during a church worship service on February 25 killed 15 Christians in the northeast of the country.

“Please pray for the attackers,” our local partners in the country shared. “Pray they will meet Jesus and repent of these wicked attacks.”

Local church leader Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo described what happened in the Essakane village Catholic church. He told our field partners: “In the morning, at 8 o’clock, Christians were gathered in the chapel for Sunday mass. Suddenly, some men arrived on motorcycles. They opened fire on the Christians in the chapel and shot them all. Thirteen died on the spot, two were seriously injured and succumbed to their injuries.”

Sawadogo recalled specific scenes—images that are, no doubt, seared into his memory:

“A little boy who was sitting by his dad's side was also killed,” he says. “The only two men who survived were those sitting with the women because they are part of the choir.” A video received from a local contact shows blood covering the floor of the church, benches pushed to one side and the shoes of believers heaped up in a large pile.

The attack is the latest among a string of atrocities in the country, often targeting Christians. Only days after the attack in Essakane village, militants stormed three more villages in north-central Burkina Faso’s Yatenga Province, killing another estimated 170 Burkinabes. According to residents contacted by AFP, survivors said that dozens of women and young children were among the victims. Christians are considered to be among the dead.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the public prosecutor wrote that he was informed of “massive murderous attacks allegedly committed in the villages of Komsilga, Nodin and Soroe” in the Yatenga province.

Pastor Toyere Israël in Yatenga also talked to Open Doors local partners about the impact of the repeated attacks on the church in the country’s northern region. “It has killed the hope that was reborn in us,” he said, “because in the region, people started returning to their homes, but these attacks come to paralyze the hope that was being reborn in hearts.”

While no group has reclaimed responsibility at press time, terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have reportedly been active in the country.

Known for its long-standing religious tolerance, Burkina Faso faces a growing threat to its peaceful coexistence. “Christians have been disproportionately impacted by the growing insurgency in the north of the country, with churches and Christian communities singled out in attacks,” explains Jo Newhouse, Open Doors’ spokesperson for our work in sub-Saharan Africa. She added that Muslims not siding with Islamic extremist groups have also “suffered greatly.”

In addition to the attacks on lives, homes and churches, the violent insecurity has internally displaced 2 million Burkinabe—one in 10—and at least 800,000 people are living under a militant Islamist group siege.

Sawadogo shared: “In this painful circumstance, we invite you to pray for those who died in faith, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of grieving hearts.

“May this incident not be in vain and pray that God will use it to grow and strengthen the church in northern Burkina Faso.”

please pray

Pray with your family in Burkina Faso and throughout the Sahel region.

Please pray for the hundreds of families affected by these attacks. Pray for strength to stand firm in their faith.
Pray for encouragement for the church leaders forced to flee because of these attacks. May the Lord encourage and guide them to minister to His people
Ask the Lord to meet the ever-growing needs of these the people living in camps for internally displaced persons in the host communities.
The BBC reports that the country’s army chief has warned of the likelihood of a series of large-scale attacks against security forces in the cities, as well as suicide attacks by the militants. Pray that the Lord will confuse these plans to create more chaos and insecurity.

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