Burkina Faso: Dozens dead in an attack by gunmen on a mosque – 2024-02-27 14:59:25

Dozens of people were killed Sunday when gunmen opened fire on a mosque in eastern Burkina Faso, the French news agency (AFP) reported today, citing local officials and security sources.

“Gunmen attacked a mosque in Natiaboani at around 5am on Sunday, killing dozens of people,” a security source told AFP.

An official of the rural community described that “terrorists invaded early in the morning. They surrounded the mosque and opened fire on worshipers who had gathered for the first prayer of the day. Several were fatally wounded, including an important religious leader.”

#UPDATE An attack on a mosque in eastern Burkina Faso has killed dozens of Muslims on the same day as another deadly attack on Catholics attending mass, local and security sources told AFP on Monday ➡️ pic.twitter.com/YK4C53hiWq

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 26, 2024

On Sunday morning, a similar attack – attributed to jihadists – took place against a Catholic church, in the community of Esakan (north). Fifteen worshipers were killed and two others were injured in the attack that took place during the service.

Pope Francis was “informed with deep sadness of the tragic terrorist attack that took place in a Catholic church in Esakan”. In a related announcement, the head of the Roman Catholic Church expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as “to the Muslim community for the attack that was committed in a mosque in Natiaboani”.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been plagued by attacks usually attributed to jihadist organizations that pledge allegiance to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Their action has claimed the lives of approximately 20,000 people and displaced over two million others.

Source: RES-MPE