Christianity is a minority religion in Burkina Faso. According to the 2019 census, 20.1% of the population were Roman Catholic, while 6.2% were Protestant; however, the exact percentages might be hard to accurately predict due to a high degree of syncretism that occurs in the country between Christians or Muslims and traditional indigenous beliefs.[1]
Representation in government
Although Christians are a minority of the overall population, they are overrepresented in civil government. Presidents and heads of state of Burkina Faso who were Christians include Thomas Sankara,[2] Saye Zerbo,[3] Blaise Compaoré,[4] Paul Kaba Thieba,[5] and Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.[6]
Present situation
Although interfaith relations between Muslims and Christians in Burkina Faso have historically been good, since 2015 there have been increasing attacks on Christians by Salafi jihadist in Burkina Faso, which have escalated rapidly since 2017.[7][8] In April 2019 Islamist gunmen killed 5 Protestant worshipers and their pastor as they were leaving church after their service in the village of Silgadji near Mali.[9] In May 2019 4 Catholics were killed by Islamist during a Marian procession in Zimtenga Department.[10] In August 2019 4 Christians were executed by extremists in Bani Department for wearing crucifixes.[11] On 1 December 2019 at least 14 church goers were killed in an attack when suspected Islamist gunmen opened fire on the church during services.[12] On 17 February 2020 a group of gunmen attacked a Protestant church were service was being held in the village of Pansi, killing 24.[13]
In an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Fr Pierre Rouamba claimed that in 2022 Burkina Faso was the country with the most anti-Christian attacks in the world. In the same interview, given in August 2023, he claimed that "for the Christians we accompany, the time perspective does not go beyond the next 24 hours. We do not know if we will survive beyond the next day."[14]
In 2023, Burkina Faso was ranked as the 23rd worse country to be a Christian.[15] It also scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[16] In January, shortly after the murder of a Catholic priest at the hands of insurgents, the bishop of Dori, Laurent Dabiré, claimed that 50% of the country was under the effective control of jihadist insurgents.[17]
At least 15 Christians were killed in an attack on 25 February in Essakane, in the diocese of Dori.[18] According to bishop Justin Kientega of Ouahigouya: “There were 47 people in the Chapel for Sunday morning celebration of the Word, led by their catechist. There were 17 men and the rest were women and children. The terrorists came and killed 12 – 9 people were killed at the chapel and 3 others died from their injuries – all males, but there were also two children among the dead, a four-year-old and a 14-year-old.”[19] In April of the same year Edouard Yougbare, a catechist from the parish of Saatenga in Fada Gourma, was abducted by terrorists and murdered.[20]