Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - At least 62 people lost their lives near Arbinda in northern Burkina Faso, on the border with Mali, in a jihadist attack followed by inter-communal clashes, between Sunday 31 March and Tuesday 2 April.
According to the Minister of Territorial Administration, Siméon Sawadogo, 32 people were killed by terrorists; another 30 died in clashes and reprisals among the Kouroumba, Peuls, Mossis communities.
The clashes began after Sunday night, armed individuals entered the village of Hamkan, 7 km from Arbinda, where they killed the village sheikh, the eldest son and his nephew.
"After the assassination of Sheikh Werem, there were clashes between the Arbinda communities, which provoked reprisals on both sides", said Minister Sawadogo.
The violence caused the escape of the displaced populations from the surrounding villages.
In Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, tensions periodically degenerate into violence between the Peuls (or Fulani), a population of shepherds, often nomadic and Muslim, present throughout West Africa, and indigenous farmers.
In neighboring Mali, on March 24, at least 160 people of the Peuls ethnic group were massacred in the village of Ogossagou (see Fides, 26/3/2019).
In Burkina Faso there is still no news of Fr. Joël Yougbaré who died on Sunday 17 March in the north of the Country (see Fides, 20/3/2019). In their message for Lent, the local bishops asked the authorities to end the violence and invited the faithful to fast and pray for peace in the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 4/4/2019)
