DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .
An article by Romuald Dofini in Lefaso.net
The Peulh community of Bobo-Dioulasso organized a day to promote culture, peace and social cohesion in Burkina Faso on Sunday, December 22, 2024 in the city of Sya. The theme of this day was: “For good living together in Faso: Traditional and religious leaders from Western Burkina speak to their communities”. During this day, which brought together several social groups, commitments and resolutions were made by the actors to promote social cohesion by giving priority to dialogue in conflict resolution.
Traditional and religious leaders commit to promoting peace and social cohesion
It was with an open heart that traditional and religious leaders spoke to their communities on Sunday, December 22, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso. According to them, it was more than necessary to organize this day in view of the situation that the country has been going through for several years. Indeed, the security situation in Burkina Faso has led to dysfunction at all levels, causing in certain areas a disintegration of all segments of the social fabric.
For traditional and religious leaders, this security crisis has also generated conflicts within the populations and led to mistrust between individuals and between communities. For them, the fight led by the defense and security forces against terrorists is commendable, but they believe that for lasting peace, it would be necessary to “re-sew” the social fabric, in order to improve social cohesion, prevent and manage disputes between communities. For this, the establishment and promotion of spaces for dialogue have proven necessary. It is therefore aware of this erosion of the social fabric caused by the security crisis and the role of customary and religious leaders in social mobilization that the Peulh customary chiefdom of Bobo-Dioulasso initiated this day to promote the culture of peace and social cohesion.
The objective of this day was to promote social cohesion in Burkina and particularly in the Grand-Ouest of Burkina. This activity brought together about sixty traditional and religious leaders from the Grand-Ouest of Burkina, citizen watch organizations, women’s organizations as well as the population of Sya, the majority of whom are Peulhs. According to the Peulh chief of Bobo-Dioulasso, Issiaka Sidibé, this day aims to recreate harmony and symbiosis between communities, to invite populations to talk to each other, to accept each other, to forgive each other and to create the conditions for the return of peace in the region and in Burkina Faso.
“It was a duty for us to organize this day because we really want to help the authorities finish their mission to reconquer the territory. We see that they have done a lot, which is why we want to make our contribution through actions. We want to tell our FDS [Force for Defense and Security] and VDP [Volunteers for Defense of the Homemand] that we are with them in heart because it is thanks to them that we live here. This meeting with the customary and religious leaders of the Grand-Ouest is to help ourselves first,” he explained.
During this activity, the traditional and religious leaders were informed about their roles in social mobilization and conflict resolution within their communities; commitments were also made by actors to promote social cohesion, by favoring dialogue in conflict resolution. From the delegation of women, the message conveyed to the community was the same. All the delegations promoted understanding, forgiveness, peace and social cohesion. Furthermore, a message of awareness, support and collaboration between the FDS and the population was conveyed for greater efficiency in the fight against terrorism.
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The strong mobilization of all actors leaves the Fulani leader of Bobo-Dioulasso with a feeling of joy and satisfaction. According to him, this mobilization demonstrates their commitment to the culture of peace and cohesion in Burkina Faso. “We are happy and satisfied because the message has been received and all the communities have understood it,” he rejoiced.
Battalion Chief Lassané Porgo, Commander of the Second Military Region of Burkina, welcomes the initiative of the activity
The initiative is welcomed by the military and administrative authorities
The day was attended by Battalion Chief Lassané Porgo, Commander of the Second Military Region of Burkina. In his speech, he did not fail to welcome the initiative of the activity. He believes that the population is finishing the work of the defense and security forces because for him, this war is almost over. “Beyond the room which is full, all the communities, all the points of view, came to give a message and that makes us happy. We are committed to serving the population, to serving Burkina Faso; so as long as this population does not have peace, does not have tranquility, it is our duty not to sleep. And we are not going to sleep until it is over,” he insisted.
Before continuing: “If religious and customary leaders speak to their communities and everyone in their family listens to the big brother or the elder, who listens to the chief and who knows his place, we will end this crisis right away and now. The problem is that we no longer respect the elder. We respect money or the one who has money more than the elder in the family and that must change.” This is why he asked everyone to be sincere, honest and upright and above all to love their neighbor. Battalion Chief Lassané Porgo affirmed that if all the messages passed in the room are sincere, Burkina Faso will soon end this security crisis.
This activity was chaired by the governor of the region, represented by the secretary general of the Hauts-Bassins region, Abraham Somdo. On behalf of the governor, he also welcomed the initiative of this day. “This activity is welcome because it is in line with the government’s priorities. Obviously, the priority that is worth it is the reconquest of the national territory, but in addition to reconquering the territory, we must have activities that allow us to sew the social fabric that has been torn apart by war and conflicts,” he said.
He did not fail to pay tribute to the fighters who watch over the well-being of the civilian population. For him, this day will help strengthen collaboration between the FDS and the population. He stressed that “the FDS create the conditions for the return of peace and it is up to the customary and religious leaders to work to consolidate this peace, to strengthen social cohesion through messages that advocate living together.” The governor’s representative invited the daughters and sons of the region to listen to the community leaders. To these community leaders, he asks them to march resolutely to the rhythm set by the country’s authorities because it is, he said, about building a strong nation, a nation where the daughters and sons speak with one voice, look in the same direction.
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