Burkina Faso: Catholic Church calls for prayers against terrorism
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - People who take up arms and explosives in Burkina Faso must lay them down and stop killing their innocent brothers and sisters, Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo of Ouagadougou appealed to citizens of the West African nation on Monday.
"We reaffirm that peace is possible," he said in his Christmas message to Catholic faithfuls in the country, urging them to pray for the defeat of terrorism that has plagued Burkina Faso for more than four years now.
For Burkina Faso, 2019 was marked by "the tragic challenge of insecurity and terrorist attacks which traumatized our populations, bereaved our families, disrupted social cohesion and compromised socioeconomic development," said the prelate.
"Many migrants and refugees, men and women are seeking peace and are homeless. The future of thousands of children is in jeopardy."
According to Cardinal Ouédraogo, "one of the strong messages of Christmas that we are celebrating soon is about peace. Peace is possible." He pointed out that "the State and the defence and security forces continue their efforts to secure our common home and protect our clueless populations."
Terror attacks have rocked Burkina Faso since 2015 and claimed more than 700 lives besides displacing thousands of people within then country.
-0- PANA TNDD/IS/KND/AR 23Dec2019
