Terrorism and the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso was once a place of stability in the embattled Sahel region. 

But for the last six years this landlocked Western African nation of 20.3 million people has been rattled by a series of terrorist attacks.

The latest, which was carried out last month in the north of the country, was one of deadliest, killing some 160 people. 

The attack took place in the village of Solhan, located in the Catholic Diocese of Dori.

It is not the only diocese in the north that has to deal with terrorism. The Diocese of Ouahigouya has also been rocked by the terrorist menace.

Bishop Justin Kientega, 62, has led the Catholics of Ouahigouya since 2010.

He told La Croix Africa’s Kamboissoa Samboé that the ongoing threat of attacks has caused a humanitarian crisis in his diocese and other parts of northern Burkina Faso.

La Croix Africa: Considering the terrorist attacks, what is the situation in the parishes of your diocese?

Bishop Justin Kientega: For the moment, only certain village chapels are closed, as well as the houses of catechists.

For the moment, no parish has been closed. The faithful who have remained in these affected villages are trying to practice their faith discreetly. They pray in community, in houses.

It’s a pity that the priests can no longer go there.

Fortunately, some of the faithful who are able, come to the parish to participate in some celebrations.

I also went to visit parishes affected by the security crisis to meet with the faithful, to bring them a message of hope and tell them that everything has an end.

What is the humanitarian situation in this region?

Some villages are empty. The humanitarian situation is worrying. 

Thanks to the help of OCADES Caritas, which supports us, we try to provide for their needs, but it is not enough.

I don't have the exact number, but there is a growing number of internally displaced people.

With the opening of a military camp in Bourzanga [Bam Province, north-central], there was hope that some Internally Displaced Persons would return to their villages.

Most of the displaced who returned to their homes had to flee again in the face of insecurity.

In Bam province, many people have returned to their villages and are protected by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland [a civilian self-defense group whose goal is to defend their villages against terrorist attacks].

Among the needs expressed is housing.

In this rainy season, we have built tents to shelter the displaced.

In addition to this, there are the food and health needs that we are responding to thanks to NGOs. However, there is also the schooling of children.

For this schooling in the Kongoussi locality, with the support of the American Caritas, we have built a building with six classrooms in the Catholic school to accommodate internally displaced children.

Catholic colleges have also received some students, but the need remains. 

For the formation of those who left the formal school system prematurely, the Missionary Brothers of the Countryside have opened sewing and hairdressing workshops.

Unfortunately, the farmers and herders have lost everything and it is difficult to find cultivable land for them. This is a concern for us.

Several communities in your diocese have begun dialogue with the armed groups. What is the outcome?

Bishop Justin Kientega: In the locality of Tiou, armed groups came to meet with the villagers.

They expressed their wish for an agreement.

They told them that they have no problem with the civilians, but that they were especially angry with the military. This was a discussion among the villagers.

But, it is legitimate to wonder with whom exactly we should dialogue.

These groups come to flatter the people and to calm them down, then come back to chase them, take their herds, impose on them a certain way of dressing, a certain way of praying...

This is not a dialogue, in my opinion. For our part, we only want peace and national cohesion.

What are your proposals for moving towards peace in your diocese?

Concretely, it is prayer.

To move towards peace, we must also take care of the needs of the young people who are recruited by these groups.

There are many young people who lack work. We must create small development projects to give them hope.

Among the religious denominations, we have several initiatives that allow us to come together to dialogue and to pray, but also to have a language that encourages social cohesion.