The army in Burkina Faso needs to contain spreading violence by al-Qaeda and IS. More than thirty men, women, and children were killed by 100 rebels burning down homes and shooting people trying to escape. Survivors are praying for peace and are very afraid. One week earlier two Spanish journalists and an Irish conservationist were killed, and a soldier went missing when an anti-poaching patrol was ambushed by rebels. Another 18 people were killed in a different village. Last year the government enlisted volunteer militiamen to help the army, but they incurred retaliation by the rebels attacking them and the communities they helped. Armed groups have driven religious and ethnic tensions between farming and herding communities in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to boost recruitment among marginalised communities. The UN said worsening violence has led to one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crises.
Burkina Faso: more attacks generate more fear
Written by David Fletcher 07 May 2021Additional Info
- Pray: for the twenty-nine million people in the region in need of aid, and for the government to provide better protection. (Psalm 138:7)
- More: www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/4/dozens-killed-in-eastern-burkina-faso-attack