Diocese of Nouna

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nouna (Latin: Dioecesis Nunensis) is a diocese located in the city of Nouna in the ecclesiastical province of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso.

History

• 12 June 1947: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Nouna from the Apostolic Prefecture of Gao in Mali
• 18 October 1951: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Nouna
• 14 September 1955: Promoted as Diocese of Nouna
• 3 December 1975: Renamed as Diocese of Nouna–Dédougou
• 14 April 2000: Renamed as Diocese of Nouna

Persecution

Like many other parts of Burkina Faso, the Diocese of Nouna has been subjected to incidents of persecution of Christians by Muslim extremists. One such case occurred in July 2022, when jihadists attacked the village of Bourasso killing at least 22 people, according to official figures, though some witnesses spoke of up to 30 deaths.^[1]

After a few months of peace, violence returned in October 2025, according to ACN. On 6 October three teenagers were pulled off a bus and executed by terrorists in Madouba, near the border with Mali and soon after that 15 people were killed when armed men fired on a bus and other vehicles travelling on the road from Nouna to Dédougou.^[2]

Special churches

The cathedral is the Cathédrale Notre Dame du Perpétuel Sécours in Nouna.

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

• Bishop of Nouna (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Guy Mukasa Sanon (since 25 January 2025)
  • Bishop Joseph Sama (14 April 2000 - 25 January 2025)
• Bishops of Nouna–Dédougou (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Zéphyrin Toé (5 July 1973 – 14 April 2000), appointed Bishop of Dédougou
• Bishop of Nouna (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Jean-Marie Lesourd, M. Afr. (14 September 1955 – 5 July 1973); see below
• Vicar Apostolic of Nouna (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Jean-Marie Lesourd, M. Afr. (18 October 1951 – 14 September 1955); see above & below
• Prefect Apostolic of Nouna (Roman rite), below
  • Father Jean-Marie Lesourd, M. Afr. (17 October 1947 – 18 October 1951); see above

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

• Judes Bicaba (priest here, 1975-2000), appointed Bishop of Dédougou in 2005
• Prosper Bonaventure Ky, appointed Bishop of Dédougou in 2018

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Burkina Faso

References

1. ACN (6 July 2022). "Burkina Faso: Murdered in front of their church". ACN International. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
2. Lafontaine, Christophe (31 October 2025). "Burkina Faso: Two dioceses hit by new wave of attacks". ACN International. Retrieved 6 November 2025.

External links

• GCatholic.org

12°44′03″N 3°51′37″W / 12.7343°N 3.8604°W / 12.7343; -3.8604