Christianity in Burkina Faso

Christianity is a minority religion in Burkina Faso. According to The World Factbook in 2019, Christians constitutes approximately 30% of the population, with Catholics representing 23.3% and Protestants 6.5%.[1] According to official government estimates in 2008 the percentages are lower: 23.2% are Christians (19.0% being Roman Catholic, 4.2% being Protestant).[2] 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.[3]

Cathedral of Ouagadougou
Christianity by country
 Christianity portal

Representation in government

Although Christians are a minority of the overall population, they are over-represented in civil government. Presidents and heads of state of Burkina Faso who were Christians include Thomas Sankara,[4] Saye Zerbo,[5] Blaise Compaoré,[6] Paul Kaba Thieba,[7] and Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.[8]

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.[9][10] 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.[11] In May 2019 4 Catholics were killed by Islamist during a Marian procession in Zimtenga Department.[12] In August 2019 4 Christians were executed by Muslims in Bani Department for wearing crucifixes.[13] 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.[14] On 17 February 2020 a group of gunmen attacked a Protestant church were service was being held in the village of Pansi, killing 24.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Africa :: Burkina Faso". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. Comité national du recensement (July 2008). "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation de 2006" (PDF). Conseil national de la statistique. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. "International Religious Freedom Report 2010: Burkina Faso". United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. 17 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Harsch, Ernest (1 November 2014). Thomas Sankara: An African Revolutionary. Ohio University Press. p. 27. ISBN 9780821445075.
  5. Saye Zerbo, président of the republic from 1980 to 1982 (article in French) "At once stopped, Saye Zerbo is thrown in prison. After his imprisonment, the deposed president contemplated and read the Qu'ran through whole nights. He also asked for the Bible that the archbishop of Ouagadougou, the cardinal Paul Zoungrana, had offered to him at the time of the first Christmas following his takeover. At this point in time he had the revelation which changed his life. In a mystical dash, Saye Zerbo was brought to his knees, returned thanks to God and converted to Christianity. His entire family did the same thing thereafter."
  6. "Famille Chrétienne". Famillechretienne.fr. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  7. "Covert 'Arabization' Threatens Moderate Islam in Africa". National Review. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. Roger, Benjamin (9 December 2015). "Burkina: qui est Sika Bella Kaboré, la nouvelle première dame du Faso?". Jeune Afrique. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. "Islamist militants are targeting Christians in Burkina Faso: 'They are planting seeds of a religious conflict'". The Washington Post. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  10. "Salafi Jihadi Militants Target Christians In Burkina Faso". criticalthreats.org. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  11. "Pastor, 5 others killed in Burkina Faso church attack". Association Press. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  12. Smith, Samuel (14 May 2019). "4 killed during Catholic procession in Burkina Faso; third attack on Christians in 2 weeks". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. Smith, Samuel (24 August 2019). "4 Christians killed by jihadis in Burkina Faso for wearing crucifixes: report". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  14. "At least 14 killed in attack on Burkina Faso church". Reuters. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  15. Mednick, Sam; Kabore, Arsene (17 February 2020). "Gunmen Kill 24 in Attack Near Church in Burkina Faso". US News & World Report. Retrieved 18 February 2020.


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