Editor’s note: This article was a response to a request from Abbot Primate Jeremias, who wrote, “I wanted to do a brief tour of the war-torn areas where Benedictines are present. At my request, I received a a long and well-written article from Father Jean-Christophe Yameogo, the Abbot of Koubri in Burkina Faso, West Africa”. We found it, indeed, a very compelling article. You may find the original text, in a French-language Google document, linked at the bottom of the page.

Dear Abbot Primate Jeremias,
Peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Alleluia.

I was deeply moved by your thoughtful inquiry into our well-being and the state of security here in Burkina Faso. Your concern is a sign of a compassionate heart.

To provide an accurate picture of the situation, I have gathered information from four dioceses severely affected by violence: Fada N’Gourma in the East, Ouahigouya in the North, Tenkodogo in the Centre-East, and Ouagadougou in the Centre. Sadly, I have received no recent updates from Kaya in the Centre-North or Dédougou in the South-West. Yet the experiences of Fada, Ouahigouya and Tenkodogo illustrate the dark reality that burdens our country.

In the eastern diocese of Fada N’Gourma, the situation is alarming. In the Parish of Piela, internal displacement continues unabated as families flee from surrounding villages. On 5 May, a catechist’s assistant was killed during an attack on a nearby village. Just days later, on 8 May, another attack within 5 km of Piela caused significant casualties. On 14 May, the military repelled an assault directly targeting the town of Piela itself.

Fields once used for cultivation are now home to displaced families, making farming nearly impossible. As a result, host villages are becoming impoverished as they share their limited resources. Worse still, the faithful can no longer gather freely for worship. Many catechists have fled to other dioceses. Beyond those who are direct victims of the violence, many others die from the psychological burden of survival. Life is hard—and expensive.

The parish buildings now shelter displaced catechists and parishioners, leaving no space for catechesis except beneath trees. Despite having little in the way of material support, the priests make every effort to offer multiple Masses each Sunday so that the faithful may attend and hold onto hope.

In the same diocese, the sisters of the Monastery of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Diabo live in constant fear. The local military camp has already been targeted, and an attack took place just 20 kilometres away on 2 May. To support the growing number of displaced families, the nuns have had to distribute food reserves once designated for a small number of vulnerable households. Out of caution, they cannot welcome displaced people into the monastery itself due to concerns about infiltration.

The situation is no better in the northern diocese of Ouahigouya. Two parishes—Rollo and Thiou—are now closed. Two others, Bourzanga and Titao, are accessible only via humanitarian flights or military convoys. Boussou had briefly reopened, but nearby attacks in the village of Kiembara have reignited fears. On 11 May, several communities were attacked—Seguenega, Posso (in the parish of Boussou), Solle (Titao), Kalo (Thiou), and the town of Sabcé—resulting in significant loss of life. Though the army regained control, the situation remains fragile.

In the Centre-East, the diocese of Tenkodogo faces its own critical challenges. Since early 2024, several parishes have been attacked, triggering large waves of displacement. Host parishes have shown great charity by offering food and clothing, albeit for only a short time. Most of those displaced are Muslims. Last year, two parishes were closed, and a third is on the verge of closure. Pastoral workers have retreated to Tenkodogo in hope of returning one day.

The Parish of Salembaoré has been closed, along with chapels in several villages of Ouargaye, Cinkansé, Bittou, Moaga and Bagré. These closures followed the deaths of Christian leaders in the region. Several priests and catechists have received death threats. Just last week, a catechist was killed during an attack. Those who flee do so with nothing. Humanitarian relief, provided through OCADES and the Catholic Women’s Association, has offered some help—but it is a mere drop in the ocean of suffering.

In recent months, violence has spread dangerously close to the heart of the diocese. Attacks have taken place within 10 kilometres of the bishop’s residence. Pastoral travel is now highly restricted, with many roads controlled by armed groups. Pastoral activity continues only in major centres, where even priests and catechists must report their movements to security forces. Despite their best efforts, the Defence Forces face enormous challenges.

In April and May, the diocese saw a surge in attacks, bringing with them a new wave of displacement. As the Executive Secretary of OCADES put it: “Since April, each day brings new displaced persons to the parishes—people in need of moral, spiritual and especially food support to avoid dying of hunger.”

As you can see, the number of children affected by violence and displacement is tragically high. These young lives will carry deep trauma as they grow.

In the diocese of Ouagadougou, home to our two Benedictine monasteries in Koubri (one for monks, the other for nuns), the situation is relatively calm. Apart from isolated incidents early in the crisis, the capital enjoys a semblance of peace. Yet even in this calm, thousands of displaced people endure extreme poverty and inhumane conditions across the city.

In Koubri, displaced families have settled on designated sites. Some have been given small plots of land on abbey property for vegetable farming. Others have found temporary work with the nuns or received small amounts of money for food and medical care. With the help of AIM and the Benedictus Foundation, we received €2,500 to cover school fees in 2025 for 29 displaced schoolchildren in the diocese of Ouagadougou. In July 2024, we distributed food to displaced people in several locations, especially those in Piela.

But our most profound contribution as monks and nuns remains prayer—unceasing prayer to God, for whom nothing is impossible. We continue to hold fast to the hope that evil will not have the final word.

Father Jean-Christophe Yameogo
Abbot of Koubri
Burkina Faso