“Burkina Faso, leave your simple ways and live; walk in the way of wisdom and eternal life!”
Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.(Proverbs 9:6,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Africa
Population | 21.93 million
Area | 274,200㎢, a landlocked country in West Africa, encompassing an area
Capital City | Ouagadougou (3.2 million people)
People Groups | Total 80 groups, Mossi 47.9%, Dioula 10.2%, Fulani 5.9%, Gurma 5.2%, Bisa 3%, Jelguji 2%
Unreached People Groups | 27 (23.3% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Mooré, Dioula, French (to be removed as official languages in 2023)
Total Languages | 79
Bible Translations | Completed 18, New Testament 26, Partial 15
Religion | Christianity 21.2% (8.6% Protestant, 11.2% Catholic), Muslim 55%, Ethnic religions 23.1% Evangelical 10.6% (2.21 million people)
》 About Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso traces its history back to the 14th century, when the Ouagadougou dynasty was established. It became a French colony in 1896, was later incorporated into French West Africa in 1946, and gained independence in 1960 as the Republic of Haute Volta.
After independence, the country experimented with multi-party democracy, but in 1983, Thomas Sankara seized power in a coup d’état, renaming the country Burkina Faso. In 1987, another military coup brought Blaise Compaoré to power, and he ruled as a dictator until 2014, when he was overthrown by mass protests against his attempt at a fifth consecutive term.
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré became president in 2015 and was re-elected in 2020. However, since 2015, ISIS-linked armed groups have launched repeated attacks, causing over 2,000 deaths and displacing more than 2 million people.
On January 24, 2022, Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led a military coup and took control. In October 2022, another coup ousted Damiba, and Army Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed power.
Burkina Faso remains one of the poorest countries in the world, struggling with irregular rainfall, poor soil, weak infrastructure, and communication challenges, making it highly vulnerable to external shocks.
Approximately 80% of the population relies on subsistence farming, with cotton as the main crop. The country’s primary exports are cotton and gold, with gold accounting for three-quarters of total export earnings. However, the national debt crisis remains a serious challenge.
Burkina Faso’s GDP per capita is approximately $987.
》 Scripture Focus
| Proverbs 9:6-10(NIV) 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight. 7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Let us be thankful that Christians make up 21% of Burkina Faso’s population, with evangelicals steadily increasing to 2.21 million (11%). However, animism and occult influences remain strong within the church.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit of Truth will convict the church, breaking the stronghold of spiritual darkness. May church leaders boldly confront idolatry, long for the gospel of the cross, and stand as true disciples who exalt Jesus Christ alone, the foundation of wisdom.
Let us pray that all believers will grow in the knowledge of God, becoming witnesses of the gospel and channels of life and transformation in Burkina Faso, a nation struggling with corruption and greed.
2. Let us pray for the church community in Burkina Faso, which also suffers from economic struggles as part of a poor nation. Let us declare that all deceptions of Satan, which bring fear and anxiety due to terrorism and poverty, were already defeated on the cross.
Let us pray that Christians will overcome a mindset of poverty and dependence and dedicate their lives to missions, trusting in the living God.
The Assemblies of God’s VIMAB (Vision Missionnaire des Assemblées de Dieu du Burkina) is a successful model of indigenous missions.
Let us pray that hundreds of missionaries, serving both locally and abroad, will remain steadfast in faith, relying on the Word of God rather than their circumstances.
3. As religious terrorism and violence increase across West Africa, Burkina Faso is experiencing unprecedented Christian persecution. Armed groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda have specifically targeted Christian communities, leading to frequent church attacks, killings, and kidnappings. As of 2024, over 2 million people have been displaced due to conflict and violence in Burkina Faso, with half of them being children. Many schools have been destroyed or shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without education, suffering from trauma caused by terrorism. Some children are forced into labor, while others face the threat of forced marriage.
Let us pray that true hope and comfort will be proclaimed to the church and all suffering souls in Burkina Faso. May they fully receive the Lord of Life, finding peace, restoration, and strength in Him.
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