A community gathered for prayer in the northern village of Esakan was attacked by armed men, church officials said.
At least 15 Catholics were killed in a village in Burkina Faso when gunmen attacked a community gathering for Mass at a church in the conflict-hit northern region, church officials said.
Sunday's riot in the village of Esakan was a “terrorist attack” and 12 participants died on the spot, while three others later died while being treated for their injuries, Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo said. In a statement, the Rector of the Catholic Diocese of Dori, where the attack occurred.
He said two other people were injured in the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting.
“In this tragic situation, we ask you to pray for God’s rest for those who have died in the faith, for healing for the wounded, and for the conversion of those who continue to sow death and devastation in our country. I want to do that,” Sawadogo said. said in a statement.
Armed groups have carried out multiple attacks in the area where the shootings occurred, including targeting Christian churches and kidnapping priests.
About half of Burkina Faso is outside government control as armed groups have ravaged the country for years. Fighters have killed thousands and displaced more than 2 million people, further threatening stability in a country hit by two coups in 2022.
Since the first coup in January 2022, the country's military junta has struggled to restore peace in the violent region. According to the Africa Strategy Center's August 2023 report, the number of people killed by armed groups has nearly tripled compared to the previous 18 months. the study.
In addition to the military regime's limited capacity, the security situation is exacerbated by porous borders with Mali and Niger, both of which are run by military authorities and are susceptible to security crises. I'm in pain.