Although interfaith relations between Muslims and Christians in Burkina Faso have historically been good, since 2015 there have been increasing attacks on Christians by
Salafi jihadist in Burkina Faso, which have escalated rapidly since 2017. In April 2019 Islamist gunmen killed 5 Protestant worshipers and their pastor as they were leaving church after their service in the village of
Silgadji near Mali. In May 2019 4 Catholics were killed by Islamist during a Marian procession in
Zimtenga Department. In August 2019 4 Christians were executed by extremists in
Bani Department for wearing crucifixes. In 2023, Burkina Faso was ranked as the 23rd worst country to be a Christian. It also scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom. In January, shortly after the murder of a Catholic priest at the hands of insurgents, the bishop of Dori, Laurent Dabiré, claimed that 50% of the country was under the effective control of jihadist insurgents. At least 15 Christians were killed in an attack on 25 February in
Essakane, in the
diocese of Dori. According to bishop
Justin Kientega of
Ouahigouya: “There were 47 people in the Chapel for Sunday morning celebration of the Word, led by their catechist. There were 17 men and the rest were women and children. The terrorists came and killed 12 – 9 people were killed at the chapel and 3 others died from their injuries – all males, but there were also two children among the dead, a four-year-old and a 14-year-old.” In April of the same year Edouard Yougbare, a catechist from the parish of Saatenga in
Fada Gourma, was abducted by terrorists and murdered. ==See also==