During Sunday worship in Essakane village near the Mali border in Oudalan province, a suspected Islamist militant attack unfolded, resulting in 12 immediate deaths and three more at the hospital, as reported by the local diocese head, Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo.
The incident marks the latest in a series of atrocities linked to Islamist militants in Burkina Faso, where over a third of the country is under insurgent control.
The government, grappling with groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS, has faced challenges in curbing their influence.
Recent tensions led Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to exit Ecowas, citing insufficient support in the fight against terrorism.
Notably, Burkina Faso’s military-backed president expressed openness to Russian troop deployment against jihadists.
