ROME — Pope Francis has condemned the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Muslims in the African nation of Burkina Faso, calling the attack “heinous.”
“I learned with sadness that on Saturday, August 24, in the city of Barsalougo, Burkina Faso, hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed and many others injured in a terrorist attack,” the pope said. Declared on Sunday after the weekly Angelus sermon.
The Barça Rogo attack, which left between 300 and 400 people dead, Most deadly The first jihadist attack in Burkina Faso's history.
According to multiple local media reports, more than 100 jihadists entered Barsalogho as residents were digging defensive trenches to protect themselves from terrorist attacks. Appeared They rode motorbikes and opened fire on civilians and soldiers with automatic rifles.
Local sources said the death toll was so high that it was impossible to bury all the victims within three days.
“In condemning these heinous attacks on human lives, I express my sympathy with the entire nation and my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” the Pope said Sunday.
“May the Virgin Mary help us restore peace and security to our loved ones in Burkina Faso,” he added.
Barsalougo, a town of 10,000 people in north-central Burkina Faso, has been the target of nearly 30 Islamist attacks in recent years and has been under jihadist blockade since 2022.
The city has been hit by three deadly jihadist attacks in the last month alone.
Bishop Théophile Naar of Kaya diocese described the incident as “a tragedy of unprecedented proportions since the start of terrorist attacks.”
In a message to the faithful in the aftermath of the devastating attack, the prelate called for three days of fervent prayer to “make amends for every attack against human life” in which innocent blood was shed.
