UN's Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso and expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, during a meeting convened in New York to discuss the situation in Burkina Faso.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Diaspora of Burkina Faso, H.E. Mr. Alpha Barry, the Director General and National Coordinator of the Program d'Urgence pour le Sahel of Burkina Faso, Mr. Martial Wilfried Bassolé, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Ms. Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Burkina Faso, Ms. Metsi Makhetha.

Burkina Faso has been wracked by escalating violence in the last few weeks. Despite government and community efforts, the security situation has become more volatile since January 2019 with increased inter-communal violence, fueled by the activities of terrorist groups.

6 people died on April 29, including a protestant pastor, after gunmen fired at Christian worshippers as the victims were leaving a church service and on May 12, six Catholics were shot to death and their church burned. The next day, four other Catholics were killed in a different church.

The PBC reiterated the solidarity of the United Nations to the people and the Government of Burkina Faso. They called on the international community to fully support the Emergency Program for the Sahel and the Humanitarian Response Plan.

The PBC reiterated support for the on-going strategy to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and rebuild the conditions for social cohesion and stability in Burkina Faso and in the Sahel.