200+ killed in new attack in Burkina Faso

The latest deadly incident in a region marked by violence against God’s people.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, terrorists opened fire on civilians and soldiers who had volunteered to dig trenches around the town of Barsalogho in northern Burkina Faso, killing at least 200 people.

The attack is considered to be one of the deadliest attacks this year in the West African country.

Of course, Burkina Faso is no stranger to attacks. In February 2024, around 170 people were killed by Islamic militants. That same month, a church was attacked by militants, leaving 15 people dead.

The violence isn’t limited to militants, either. In a suspected reprisal for several terrorist attacks against government forces, the official military reportedly executed more than 250 people, including children—civilians accused of collaborating with Islamist armed groups—earlier this year.

Because of so much horror being inflicted on the people of Burkina Faso, there is an ongoing displacement crisis. Christians, who are often targeted by the Islamic militant groups, are caught up in this displacement.

Pastor Soré, a Christian in Burkina Faso, has seen this firsthand. His village was attacked three separate times by Islamic militants before he and his family finally fled to a safer area. “We assume they are Muslim [extremists] through the words they speak before committing their actions,” Pastor Soré says. “They always start and end their actions by [saying] ‘Allahu akbar,’ [which means ‘God is most great’].

“When the terrorists come to churches and find Christians, they tell them that Christianity’s time is over, and they should turn to the Islamic religion. They warn Christians to stop conducting [church] services. After warning, when they come back later and find you in the church, they kill you ...”

Although there is a socio-economic aspect that influences the insurgency, the religious motivation remains the biggest driving force behind the violence that is displacing millions. Not even moderate Muslims are safe from jihadists.

“When the terrorists came the third time, they did not spare Muslims at all,” Pastor Soré says. “They burned the goods of all people, regardless of their religion. Now, when they abduct people, they later ask them to recite the Quran, and if you are unable to do it, you are likely to be killed.

“As Christians, we know we are hated by the terrorists …”

Like countless other Burkinabe, Pastor Soré now lives in a makeshift tent. His life is hard—but at least it’s safer.

The latest attack in Barsalogho has been claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an affiliate of al-Qaeda. Many of the people killed were civilians who volunteered to help dig trenches.

A disturbing video filmed by the attackers and circulated on social media shows how men dressed in plain clothes are brutally shot and killed indiscriminately lying face down in the trench while men shout “Allahu Akbar.”

“… we will make sure that the enemy knows that we will never again accept such barbarity in our territory,” Mahamadou Sana, Burkina Faso's security minister, said in a state television broadcast. “In any case, we want to assure the Burkinabe people that we are committed to protecting the Burkinabe and their property and will stand firm.”

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul, also condemned the terrorist attack.

Open Doors also calls for greater involvement by the government and international attention to be paid to the staggering violence in Burkina Faso. “Open Doors strongly condemns the attack on civilians and joins the calls on government at all levels to keep civilians safe and bring to justice all who are found to be involved in these acts of brutality,” says Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors’ spokesperson for our work in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The millions of Burkinabe people that have already been affected by the violence are living in constant flux—bereaved and severely traumatized,” she continues. “The immediate and long-term human cost of the violence must not be allowed to continue in this manner. All human beings have the right to protection no matter their faith, ethnicity, or gender.”

“We further call on the international Christian community to remain in prayer over this devastating situation. Pray for an end to the Islamist violence as government at all levels diligently, impartially and transparently address the violence and its effects. Pray for provision for the church in Burkina Faso as she seeks to bring physical and spiritual assistance to the affected.”

The situation in Burkina Faso is just one of countless atrocities happening across sub-Saharan Africa. This is why Open Doors has launched the multi-year Arise Africa campaign, a prayer and petition effort to bring the eyes of the world to what’s happening to our brothers and sisters in Africa—and then to do something about it.