icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
1 Dec, 2019 20:41

Gunmen kill up to 14 in Protestant church attack in Burkina Faso – reports

Gunmen kill up to 14 in Protestant church attack in Burkina Faso – reports

A Protestant church has been attacked by unidentified gunmen in the West African nation of Burkina Faso, according to media reports citing security sources. Some 14 people are feared dead in the wake of the massacre.

The incident reportedly occurred in the commune of Hantoukoura, located in the east of the country close to its border with Niger, late on Sunday, yet there’s no official word on it.

The church was attacked by unknown assailants while a congregation attended a service. The assault left 10 to 14 people dead, according to various media reports.

Africa’s Maghreb and Sahel regions have been enduring an Islamist insurgency for nearly two decades already. The situation in Burkina Faso began rapidly deteriorating about four years ago, as violence spilled over from the neighboring states. It has stirred up ethnic and religious tensions across the country, especially in its northern regions bordering Mali.

Also on rt.com At least 16 killed in Burkina Faso mosque attack – reports

2019 has been particularly violent, with a surge in terrorist attacks and sectarian violence. The majority of attacks in Burkina Faso have been attributed to the Ansar-ul-Islam and JNIM (Group in Support of Islam and Muslims) militant jihadist groups. The Islamists have previously targeted Christians, as well as Muslims who are considered not hardline enough.

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

Podcasts
0:00
26:13
0:00
24:57