Burkina faso/district 9: More than 500 religious leaders mobilized to promote peace, social cohesion and living together: The local executive office of the Muslim Community of Burkina Faso (CMBF) in district 9 organized an awareness workshop on Saturday in Ouagadougou, bringing together more than 500 participants, including Quranic teachers, madrasa leaders, preachers and religious leaders, with a view to promoting peace, social cohesion and living together.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this two-day meeting aims to strengthen the capacity of religious leaders so they can contribute more effectively to peacebuilding, promoting social cohesion, and improving the organization of Quranic schools, in accordance with national guidelines and current legal provisions.

Mahamadi Zoungrana, Secretary General of the CMBF's local executive office for district 9, emphasized the importance of this initiative in addressing the needs of the national context. "We have noted the directives given at the highest level in favor of strengthening social cohesion, peace and living together. It was therefore necessary to bring together religious leaders so that they could take ownership of these directives as well as the provisions of Law No. 011 on freedom of association," he explained at the opening of the workshop.

The workshop, themed 'The Challenges of Quranic Schools and the Role of Religious Leaders in Preserving Peace, Social Cohesion, and Living Together,' is part of the local office's operational action plan, spearheaded by its president, El Hadj Hamado Ou©draogo, in collaboration with the national office of the Muslim Community of Burkina Faso.

During the two days, participants will receive five presentations to equip them with the skills needed to manage Quranic schools, protect children, promote peace discourse, and ensure respect for the texts governing religious activities. Dr. Hatimi D©m©, the Secretary General of the Muslim Community of Burkina Faso, praised the initiative as exemplary given the current security context in the nation.

He emphasized the crucial role of religious leaders in influencing communities and highlighted the necessity for Quranic teachers and religious leaders to be aware of new regulations concerning religions and innovations regarding Quranic schools. This awareness is vital to provide quality education that respects children's rights and safety.

A 2021 UNICEF-commissioned study identified 5,633 Koranic schools in Burkina Faso, providing education to over 200,000 students, underscoring the importance of this sector in non-formal education. Dr. D©m© stressed the need for better regulation of the movements of Koranic teachers and their students to mitigate challenges these children face.

Jocelyne Traor©/Sanon, the president of the special delegation of district 9, welcomed the initiative as being of "crucial importance" in the current context. She expressed hopes that religious leaders, following this training, will be more committed to disseminating messages that unite Burkinab¨ people, strengthen social cohesion, and consolidate community spirit around the nation.

At the ceremony, El Hadj Sayouba Traor© commended the CMBF's local executive office in district 9 for promoting social cohesion and invited other local offices of the Muslim community to follow suit to strengthen lasting peace in Burkina Faso.