Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso — In an effort to address the ongoing social challenges in Burkina Faso’s Northern region, the Special Regional Delegation of the North held a critical meeting on Friday, August 23, 2024, focusing on promoting social cohesion and peace.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting, led by 1st Vice-President Abdoulaye Sanfo, drew participants from various sectors including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from all four provinces of the region. The discussions centered on ways to enhance living together and social cohesion, crucial for the peaceful coexistence and integration of host populations and IDPs.
The meeting was part of the Decentralization and Citizen Participation program (DEPAC) phase 3, funded by Swiss Cooperation. It aimed at gathering insights and recommendations from community leaders to forge a path toward peace in a region that has seen significant demographic changes due to a massive movement of populations from rural areas to provincial capitals, impacting social relations among different communities.
Participants unanimously praised the initiative, committing to act as ambassadors of peace upon their return to their respective communities. Angèle Zida/Guigma, president of the provincial coordination of women of Passoré, highlighted the crucial role of community leaders in peacebuilding efforts, acknowledging the significant support from the Northern regional council and its partners in organizing the event amidst challenging conditions.
Vice-President Sanfo expressed gratitude for the strong turnout and urged all stakeholders to continue their engagement for the success of the peacebuilding initiatives.