Christians suffer from the devastating violence of jihadists in Burkina Faso

Hundreds of civilians were killed in a terrorist attack by a militant Islamic group in the town of Barsalogho, less than 160 kilometers from Ouagadougou, the capital of the West African state of Burkina Faso.

The attack is the latest incident in a wave of violence that has rocked the country for years. Jihadist groups seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate across the region are trying to undermine what they see as Western-influenced governments. Authorities have blamed the latest atrocity on Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a group linked to al-Qaeda.

The townspeople were digging defensive trenches when they were attacked by the heavily armed Islamist group. Eyewitnesses reported that bodies were scattered everywhere after the attack, along with the shovels they were carrying. Preliminary reports suggest that between 200 and 400 people were killed and many more injured.

Barsalogho has struggled with the effects of Islamist violence before. The town has provided shelter to nearly 90,000 refugees, mostly Christians, who had fled jihadist violence further north. The UK-based organisation Release International, which supports Christians across Burkina Faso, has a presence in Barsalogho and responded to the latest incident.

“Christians in Burkina Faso have suffered attacks and displacement for several years, and many of them in Barsalogho had already fled their homes and communities further north – believing they would be safe there,” said CEO Paul Robinson.

“However, these militant groups have proven that they will stop at nothing to take control and forcefully impose their interpretation of Islam on everyone.”

Since 2025, more than two million people have been displaced by Islamist violence in one of the world's poorest countries, triggering a humanitarian crisis. Burkina Faso's Christians are the hardest hit. Churches and schools are regularly attacked and believers face the constant threat of death or kidnapping.

“Many Christian families have been forced to flee their villages because of the threat of attacks. These displacements have impacted daily life, affecting access to basic services, education and livelihoods,” said a Release International partner working on the ground in Burkina Faso.

In addition to the current violence, the country's inhabitants have also experienced military coups – two of them as recently as 2022 – and have been subjected to repeated droughts and famines. The atmosphere of chronic insecurity has caused the people of Burkina Faso to lose confidence in their government's ability to protect and care for its citizens.

Release International operates in around thirty countries around the world and is currently supporting the many pastors and widows in Burkina Faso who have been displaced due to violence against Christians. They are initially provided with food and hygiene items before being given support to earn a living. The organization is also committed to providing access to education for the children of displaced Christian families.

Release International is currently calling on Christians to support us in meeting the ongoing needs of those who have fled violence.