Authorities in Burkina Faso report that dozens of individuals were killed in an attack on a mosque, which occurred on the same day as a church was targeted.
The assailants surrounded the mosque during early-morning prayers in Natiaboani town, with most of the victims being Muslim men, according to a local resident.
The area where the attacks took place is within Burkina Faso’s troubled eastern region, where Islamist insurgents hold significant control.
Suspected Islamist fighters also attacked soldiers and a local self-defense militia on the same day, with reports describing a large-scale invasion by hundreds of militants on motorbikes armed with machine guns.
While officials have provided a death toll, unverified reports on social media suggest that the actual number of casualties from the mosque attack may be higher.
Additionally, on the same day, a Catholic church in Essakane in the country’s northeast was attacked during Sunday mass, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 worshippers.
A church official attributed the attack to suspected Islamist militants.
Although no formal link has been established between the two incidents, speculation has arisen regarding the possibility of a coordinated plot.
Burkina Faso’s L’Observateur Paalga newspaper has raised questions about this potential connection.
Attacks targeting religious figures are not uncommon in Burkina Faso, with instances such as the kidnapping of a priest from Djibo five years ago who remains missing.
Additionally, in 2021, the main imam of Djibo was kidnapped and later found dead.
Burkina Faso faces significant humanitarian challenges, with ongoing insecurity displacing over two million people from their homes.
The UN estimates that a quarter of children under five in the country suffer from stunted growth due to hunger.
Despite the military assuming power two years ago with promises to tackle insurgent violence, the situation persists, underscoring the enduring challenges faced by the nation.
Source-BBC
