Banfora: The Governor of the Tannounyan region, Patrice Yeye, visited Banfora on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, to meet with Catholic and Evangelical Christian faithful during the prayer vigils marking the celebration of Christmas.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the governor's first stop was at Saint Peter's Parish in Banfora, where Catholic worshippers had gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Bishop of Banfora, Bishop Lucas Kalfa Sanou. In his homily, the Bishop invited the faithful to cultivate solidarity, charity, humility, and prayer, while urging them to imitate the heart of God through acts of love and sharing.

Following his visit to the Catholic church, the governor proceeded to the Central Church of the Assemblies of God in Banfora, where he encouraged the evangelical Christian faithful gathered for a prayer vigil. Prayers were offered for peace, security, and stability in Burkina Faso, as well as for the national and regional authorities. The faithful also prayed for the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), who are deployed on the battlefield.

The service was led by Pastor Fabrice Soma, Senior Pastor of the Central Church of the Assemblies of God in Banfora and President of FEME. In his sermon, he encouraged the faithful to support the Burkinabe authorities in their development vision and to embrace presidential initiatives. He also urged the evangelical Christians to forgive, following the example of Christ, and to contribute to the Faso Mebo initiative, recently launched in Banfora.

Pastor Fabrice Soma remarked, 'We always pray for the stability of the country, for the authorities, the security forces, the VDP, and for social cohesion every time we gather for church programs. And we will continue to do so, because we do it for our own good and for the good of the people.'

Governor Patrice Yeye emphasized the importance of his presence among the Christian communities, stating, 'We came to commune with our Catholic and Evangelical Christian brothers and sisters to show them our solidarity. It was also about praying with them for peace, for our security forces deployed in the theater of operations, for social cohesion, and for living together in our region.'

He extended his Christmas wishes to all Christian faithful of the Tannounyan region, expressing hope that the birth of Christ would bring joy, peace, and serenity, and that the celebration would be a time of sharing, solidarity, communion, and strengthening community ties.