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Security Situation in Burkina Faso “very worrying,” Church Leader Testifies

Burkina Faso security worrying.
Jecinter Okoth

By Jecinter Okoth

Ouagadougou, 27 August, 2019 / 2:02 am (ACI Africa).

The security situation in Burkina Faso has been described as “very worrying,” the latest incident being the Monday, August 19 killing of at least 24 soldiers in the north of the landlocked West African country.

“The security situation is very worrying,” Fr. Paul Ouedraogo told ACI Africa.

“Nobody is spared; the civilians were targeted, the defense and security forces were killed and the religious leaders too,” Fr. Ouedraogo who is the director of communications in Ouagadougou Archdiocese explained.

He further clarified that the attackers do not seem to target members of particular religions saying “all religious denominations (Christians, Muslims, followers of the traditional religion) have fallen victims.”

However, according to Fr. Jean Baptiste Kouraogo, a native of Burkina Faso, Catholic and Protestants have borne the brunt of the attacks, which have been rampant in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country.

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“It is complicated to know who these attackers are,” Fr. Kouraogo told ACI Africa and added, “The killings involve Catholics and Protestants.”

“I remember recently when a priest and some other Christians were killed, so sad,” Fr. Kouraogo who belongs to the religious congregation of the Missionaries of Africa recalled.

“We have been facing these attacks both as the Church and the government, this is not the first time and instability is increasing,” Fr. Kouraogo lamented.

According to Fr. Ouedraogo, the bishops are not silent about the insecurity in the country.

“On several occasions, the bishops delivered messages calling on each other to work to create understanding and cohesion among the populations,” Fr. Ouedraogo said and explained, “The bishops of the episcopal conference delivered a message at the end of their ordinary plenary session focused on the security among others in the Sahelian area.”

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He acknowledged the initiatives of the various churches to promote peace and unity in the country saying, “like many other countries, ours has experienced many crises that have found their outcome through the cooperation of the ecclesial authorities and also with the collegiality of authorities of other faiths.”

“Meetings are sometimes initiated to create a constructive dialogue capable of bringing peace,” Fr. Ouedraogo said.

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