Legislation Factsheet: Attacks on Houses of Worship and Religious Leaders in Burkina Faso

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Burkina Faso was long viewed as a bastion of religious tolerance and interfaith
harmony in west Africa. However, in recent years, religious freedom conditions in
Burkina Faso have deteriorated, with the country facing interrelated security and
humanitarian crises. Attacks on both Muslim and Christian houses of worship and
religious leaders have spiked as jihadist and other militia groups expand their area
of influence throughout the country. The government is struggling to rein in the
violence, and poor performance and misconduct by government affiliated forces are
exacerbating the situation