01/27/2021 Burkina Faso (International Christian Concern) – The body of Father Rodrigue Sanon was found in a forest in Southwest Burkina Faso, an area reportedly overrun by jihadist activity. “It is with deep sorrow that I bring to everyone’s attention that the lifeless body of Fr. Rodrigue Sanon was found on Jan. 21, 2021, in the protected forest of Toumousseni, about 20 kilometers from Banfora,” Bishop Lucas Kalfa Sanou told Vatican News earlier this week.
According to the Catholic News Agency, Father Sanon was a priest at Notre Dame de Soubaganyedougou. He disappeared Tuesday on his way to Banfora to meet the bishop. He never arrived for his meeting. His car was later found abandoned.
It is still unclear who had originally taken him or why they ended up taking his life. It is believed that his death is linked to the increasing jihadist activity throughout Burkina Faso. As this activity has increased, more than 1 million people have been displaced from their homes. Many attacks have targeted Christians over the past 5 years, with any increasing number since 2018. Please continue to pray for Burkina Faso as it goes through this time of violence.
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