by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Fifteen people were murdered by Islamic jihadists in eastern Burkina Faso last Monday as the desperately poor West African country continues to suffer extreme violence and humanitarian catastrophe under the worst jihadist insurrections in the Sahel, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Last week’s killings in the eastern part of the country came just a few days after 12 civilians were murdered by suspected jihadists in western Burkina Faso and five days after 20 people were killed in a separate attack in the eastern region, ICC said.
“As of 2023, the country has not been successful in curbing the spread of violence and still struggles with one of the bloodiest jihadist insurrections in the Sahel,” ICC explained in its report. “The violence and unrest have created the worst humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso’s history.”
The United Nations has estimated that one in five Burkina Faso civilians - around 4.7 million people - currently need humanitarian aid, ICC said.
Calling for prayer for Burkina Faso, ICC requested: “Pray for those who engage in horrendous crimes against humanity, that they will experience the love of Jesus and be guided from darkness to light. Please also pray for the Lord to protect and strengthen the persecuted church and to provide healing to all those affected by violence.”