By Wesley Omondi
ROME, SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 (CISA) – Pope Francis has condemned the recent terrorist attack in Burkina Faso that claimed over 50 lives.
Speaking at the Vatican after September 1, 2024, Angelus prayer, the Holy Father expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, calling for an immediate end to the violence and urging the global community to support peace and reconciliation efforts in the region.
“In condemning these heinous attacks against human life, I express my closeness to the nation as a whole and my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” Pope Francis said.
The attack, which occurred on August 30, 2024, targeted a small village in the northern part of Burkina Faso. Armed militants, suspected to be affiliated with extremist groups operating in the Sahel region, launched a brutal assault on civilians, setting homes ablaze and indiscriminately killing men, women, and children.
The attack is one of the deadliest in recent years in a country that has been grappling with escalating violence from Islamist insurgents since 2015.
Burkina Faso, a West African nation known for its rich cultural heritage and history of religious tolerance, has become a hotbed of extremist violence. Islamist militant groups, some linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, have exploited the country’s political instability, economic challenges, and ethnic tensions to establish footholds in various regions. The violence has forced nearly two million people to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis that has left countless communities vulnerable and destabilized.
The pope concluded his Angelus address by offering a prayer for the victims of the Burkina Faso attack and all those affected by violence worldwide. He encouraged the faithful to remain hopeful and to continue working towards a future where peace and justice prevail.
