Home » News » Burkina Faso: Bishop of Dori asks to stop the outside support for the Jihadists

Burkina Faso: Bishop of Dori asks to stop the outside support for the Jihadists

“If the world continues to do nothing, the result will be the elimination of the Christian presence in this area and quite possibly in future from the entire country.” These were the warning words given to the international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International) by Bishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré of the diocese of Dori, in the northeast of Burkina Faso, following the umpteenth attack against Christians in the country recently.

The latest incidents took place on 27 June, but the news had only come through now. “It happened in the neighbouring diocese of Ouahigouya, the bishop explained, “when the people of the village of Bani had gathered together to speak among themselves. The islamists arrived and forced everybody to lie face down on the ground. Then they searched them. Four people were wearing crucifixes. So they killed them because they were Christians. After murdering them, the Islamists warned all the other villages that if they did not convert to Islam they too would be killed.

Bishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré of the diocese of Dori, in the northeast of Burkina Faso
Bishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré of the diocese of Dori, in the northeast of Burkina Faso

This is the fifth attack against Christians since the beginning of the year in the northeast of the country, bringing the number of Christians killed to 20. The attacks have affected the three dioceses of Dori, Kaya and Ouahigouya. According to Bishop Dabiré, the action of these Islamic fundamentalists has intensified since 2015. “At first they were only active in the frontier region between Mali and Niger. But slowly they have moved into the interior of the country, attacking the army, the civil structures and the people. Today their main target appears to be the Christians and I believe they are trying to trigger an interreligious conflict.”

Although initially it was thought that the extremist were all foreigners, over time it has been discovered that there are also some Burkinabé among them. “They include youths who have joined the jihadists because they have no money, no work and no prospects, but there are also radicalised elements who are involved in these movements which they see as the expression of their Islamic faith.” Meanwhile, there is growing fear within the Christian community. “It is since 2015 that we have been subjected to this spate of violence” said Bishop Dabiré, in whose own diocese a priest was abducted on 17 March this year, Father Joël Yougbaré. “To this day we still have no news of him”, the bishop adds. “The degree of insecurity is growing constantly and it has even forced us to reduce our pastoral activities.” He explained that in fact there are some areas where it is now impossible to go and that he has been forced to close down two parishes in order to protect his priests religious and faithful.

What hurts, in the midst of so much suffering, is also the lack of any action to defend the Christian communities, and above all the aid being channeled from abroad to the jihadists. “The weapons they are using were not made here in Africa. They have rifles, machine guns and so much ammunition, more than the Burkina Faso army has at its disposal. When they come to the villages they shoot for hours. Who is supplying them with these resources? If they were not getting this support from outside, they would have to stop. That’s why I’m appealing to the international authorities. Whoever has the power to do so, may they put a stop to all this violence!”

Don't miss the latest updates!

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children…

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli…

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

From Angola to Vietnam, enthusiasm with “One million children praying the Rosary” campaign

ACN’s yearly campaign, added to the Holy Father’s appeal to…

Church clings to life amid chaos in Gaza

Aid to the Church in Need echoes Pope Leo XIV’s…

List of News

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign. Pope Leo XIV kept up the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Francis, by promoting the One...

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, the hope for a beginning of peace is cautiously laying roots in the diocese of the Holy...

Fr Hugo Alaniz recounts a night of explosions and fear in Aleppo: “People are very afraid, we don’t know what is going to happen”

In the midst of a new wave of fighting, the Argentine priest describes hours of anguish in Aleppo. His parish has once again become a refuge for dozens of families....