Burkina Faso (MNN) — Land borders remain closed in Burkina Faso following Monday’s military coup. It’s the region’s third ouster in the past 18 months.
Air borders reopened on Tuesday, while a nightly curfew remains in place. After kidnapping the president and dissolving the government, soldiers now face condemnation and possible sanctions from the global community.
“There was great frustration with President Kabore and his inability to stop the attacks from radical Muslims in Burkina Faso, particularly in the northern part of the country,” Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says.
“There is the perception that, perhaps, the military can stop those attacks and keep radical Muslim terrorists from coming into the country.”
Approximately 1.4 million people fled extremist violence in recent years, making Burkina Faso host one of the world’s largest displacement crises. More than 17,500 people fled to neighboring countries in the past year alone, nearly doubling the total number of Burkinabe refugees and asylum-seekers.
See how VOM USA helps persecuted Christians in Burkina Faso. Extremists frequently target believers during their attacks, killing Gospel workers and torching churches.
Find your place in the story
If land border closures continue beyond a temporary period, it could prevent aid from reaching these vulnerable communities. Pray events in Burkina Faso will not become violent. “This is still a very fluid situation, so I think praying for stability” is essential, Nettleton says.
“How long will they (the borders) be sealed? How soon will the rest of the world be able to provide help? Will the rest of the world provide help? So far, the condemnation of the coup has been pretty universal,” he adds.
“Those are all questions we don’t know answers to right now. But they certainly will impact the people of Burkina Faso – especially those who are displaced and essentially living as refugees in their own country.”
Pray believers will find Gospel opportunities. “Times of upheaval can be great times of ministry,” Nettleton says.
“[When] everyone is worried about the future, Christians can say, ‘Hey, we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but we know the ultimate future; you can know your ultimate future as well through Jesus Christ.’”
Header image courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA.
