BURKINA FASO COUNTRY PROFILE
In 2026, Burkina Faso was ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index, having held first or second place since 2023. 23 Once considered a model of interreligious harmony in West Africa, it has sharply deteriorated since Islamist attacks began in 2015. Initially infiltrating the north from neighboring Mali, extremist groups linked to transnational jihadi networks — including the local Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal- Muslimin (JNIM) — have extended their presence to every region except the south. The Islamists are also involved with organized crime, such as drug trafficking, smuggling and illegal mining. 24 Now one of the main epicenters of jihadist violence in the Sahel, militant groups control at least 40 percent of the country, 25 mostly in rural areas. They often coerce villagers to follow Islamic customs, making women veil their faces in public and men grow beards. Those who refuse are
expelled or even publicly executed. Where insurgents allow Christians to practice their faith, this is restricted to inside churches, and it cannot be taught to children. 26 A local source told ACN: “Sometimes the Christians are permitted to pray, but just as quickly they can be subjected to abuse, to make them flee.” 27 Islamist violence has targeted both military and civilian populations, including religious communities. 28 As part of the jihadists’ attempt to impose their own extremist ideology, Christians have been consistently singled out, with churches attacked and believers summarily executed. It is very difficult to provide reliable figures, but between May and August 2024, around 100 Christians were reported killed in the Zekuy-Doumbala pastoral region. 29 While Christians are not the only group to suffer, nevertheless the Islamist terrorists display a clear animus against the faith. was traveling on two motorcycles: those on the first motorcycle fled into the forest, but the two on the second were murdered. AUGUST 2025 Women in a parish in Pibaoré formed a human shield to protect their priest, after he was attacked during Mass. Bishop Théophile Naré of Kaya said “This heroic act was not picked up by the media, but it remains an important symbol of faith and solidarity." 30 OCTOBER 2025 A catechist from Kouala commune in Fada N’Gourma Diocese was kidnapped during Mass on Sunday, October 5. A local source told ACN: “He was specifically targeted. The goal is to spread fear among the Christians.” He was subsequently released. 31
SELECTED INCIDENTS
AUGUST 2024 On Sunday, August 25, JNIM extremists killed 26 men from Sanaba village in Nouna Diocese. Insurgents separated out all males over 12 years who were Christians (Catholics and Protestants), practitioners of traditional religions or those thought hostile to jihadist ideology. They were taken to the nearby Protestant church and their throats cut. In the following days, jihadists targeted three nearby Catholic parishes close to the border with Mali, triggering the flight of around 5,000 women and children to Nouna. JANUARY 2025 Four catechists from Ouakara parish were ambushed near Bondokuy while returning from a training session on Saturday, January 25. The group
12 | Persecuted and Forgotten?
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