On Sunday, an assault on a Catholic church in northeastern Burkina Faso resulted in the tragic death of fifteen worshipers and two others seriously injured. The assault unfolded during a Sunday worship session in Essakane village, situated in the Oudalan province near the Mali border.

Since 2013, African regions have witnessed a disturbing rise in Christian persecution, marked by thousands of casualties, the destruction of homes, and the vandalism of churches. Despite these alarming events, international media often overlook these incidents.

Local diocesan authorities revealed that the assailants responsible for the attack were identified as Islamist militants. Twelve individuals lost their lives on the spot, while three others succumbed to injuries at the hospital. There has been no immediate action from the authorities in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

According to the Local diocese, the gunmen were Islamist militants. Twelve worshipers died on the spot, while three others died at the hospital. There was no immediate response from the authorities in the West African country’s capital, Ouagadougou.

This tragic event is the latest in a series of atrocities in Burkina Faso attributed to Islamist militants. Presently, over half of the country is under insurgents’ control. The rest of the country is under military rule. However, the government is engaged in combatting Islamist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, who have seized significant portions of land, leading to the displacement of millions of Christians in the Sahel region.