Christian Refugees in Burkina Faso
The Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso has displaced over 1 million people. The terrorists had specifically targeted Christians, forcing many to flee. The local Church is helping to support these displaced families.
By ACN Staff
A displaced Christian family in Burkina Faso. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Since 2016, there has been a growth of terrorist attacks in the north of Burkina Faso by Islamist terrorists. Bartholomew is a Catholic and a father of seven from Dablo in the north of Burkina Faso. Before the insurgency, Bartholomew made his living by farming and keeping livestock. He and his family had a simple and peaceful life. The majority of the local people were not Catholics, but the local Catholics had a small chapel to practice their faith. A local priest was assisted by eight catechists in ministering to the faithful.
Fr. Simeon Yampa. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Bartholomew and other Catholics in Dablo had a peaceful existence. That is until the Islamists arrived. In 2019, there was a dramatic increase in terrorist attacks, with local Christians, the majority of whom are Catholics, being deliberately targeted. Many Christians were killed, and others were forced to flee their homes. Bartholomew tells us about how the Islamist insurgency reached him and his family:
“The terrorists surrounded the church and forced their way in, fully armed, shooting at us. They killed five people and the priest as well. I can still see their faces. Some of them had revolvers; others held steel bars in their hands…After that, they dragged everything together, the benches, liturgical items and books, in the centre of the church and set fire to it. They ordered all the women to cover their heads and stole our motorcycles. We ran out of the church. I can only thank the Lord that they didn’t kill me and my family as well.”
The priest who was killed by the terrorists was Father Simeon Yampa. He had been at the parish for about a year at the time of the attack. Instead of trying to flee, he had tried to mediate with the terrorists. He was killed on Good Shepherd Sunday.
The day after the attack, Bartholomew and his family fled. Bartholomew cycled on a bicycle while his wife, Antoinette Sawadogo, drove with the children in a car.
Bartholomew and his family had to leave behind all their possessions and livestock, which was their livelihood. They travelled 195 km (120 miles) to Ouagadougou, where Bartholomew’s oldest son lived. Sadly, Bartholomew’s story is not unique. There are around 1.3 million internal refugees in Burkina Faso who have been displaced by the Islamist insurgency.
Christmas in Ouagadougou. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
The Church has stepped forward to help these refugees, many of whom, like Bartholomew, had to leave behind all they owned to flee. It has not been easy for the local Church to organise the help that was needed on such short notice, but the local faithful trust that God will provide.
Bartholomew told ACN what Christmas was like before his family was displaced by the terrorists:
“In Burkina, traditionally, on Christmas Day the parents would try to organise a family celebration because Christmas is the feast of the children. After Mass, the parents would prepare dishes of rice and other things, and we would all visit one another dressed in our best clothing. The children would make Christmas cribs which they took round all the houses, singing and praising the Lord. It was a very beautiful feast.”
Bartholomew explains now they share what little they do have a Christmas with others. But something is missing, and things are not the same as they were before the insurgency. ACN is helping the local Church support these refugees. If you would like to help us in our work, please consider making a donation.