Terrorist Attack Kills 15 Catholic Worshippers in Burkina Faso Village

At least 15 Catholic worshippers were killed in a Burkina Faso village on Sunday when gunmen attacked a community gathered for prayers in the country’s conflict-hit northern region.

The violence was a “terrorist attack” that left 12 of the Catholic faithful dead at the scene and three others later as they were being treated for their wounds. No further details were provided about the attack, which no group claimed responsibility for.

Suspects fell on jihadis who have frequently attacked remote communities and security forces, especially in the northern region. The country’s junta has struggled to restore peace in violent hot spots since the first coup in January 2022, with the number of people killed by jihadis nearly tripled compared to the 18 previous months.

The security situation has also been worsened by the country’s porous borders with Mali and Niger, both of which are also run by juntas and struggle with security crises.