Christians face instability, violent attacks, and displacement from their homes.
bottom"I couldn’t pray, because when I prayed, I wept. But when I wept, I prayed with tears."
– Pastor John lost his son in an extremist attack that killed 113 people.
Burkina Faso has experienced a broad collapse in state authority. This insecurity has led to Islamic extremists being able to dominate areas of the country and freely commit violence. These groups rule as a form of quasi-government with little opposition. Extremist religious leaders encourage communities to be hostile towards Christians.
Due to this, churches have been forced to close and have been burned, and Christian homes and businesses have been destroyed and looted. Christian communities can face threats, violent attacks, and displacement from their homes. Anyone who leaves Islam to follow Jesus is especially vulnerable to threats and violence.
In areas under their control, extremists increasingly exploit the poverty and anti-Western sentiment among local clans to exert pressure on Christians. They attempt to indoctrinate young people, enforce strict religious codes, and justify violence against Christians as being divinely mandated. This year, brutal attacks by extremists on Christian communities have claimed more lives, destroyed Churches and homes, and displaced an estimated two million people.
Christians in rural areas controlled by Islamic extremists are most vulnerable to harassment and targeted attacks. They are often expected to follow strict religious rules. Those who deviate from these rules, especially converts from Islam, risk the most serious persecution from their families and communities. Women are particularly vulnerable to abduction, sexual assault, and forced marriage, while men face abductions, forced conscription, and violent, often deadly, attacks by extremist groups.
– Pray for stability and that the people of Burkina Faso will be cared for by the authorities.
– Pray that Islamic extremists who attack Christians will encounter the truth of Jesus and put aside their violent aims.
– Ask God to comfort Christians who have been displaced, and pray for Open Doors’ partners as they care for these believers.
Open Doors serves the Church in Burkina Faso through persecution-awareness training, relief efforts, spiritual care, and trauma care. Behind these is the vision to see the Church respond biblically to persecution by spiritually empowering her members and caring for those most affected.
