The2nd edition of the Boucle du Mouhoun regional community day was held on Saturday, November 18, 2023. The initiative was taken by the Solidar Suisse and SOS Sahel International Burkina Faso consortium and its local partners as part of the “Strengthening Community Resilience of Agroforestry Households in the Boucle du Mouhoun and North Regions (RESICOM)” project. Administrative, local, customary and religious authorities, organizers and, of course, a wide range of communities took part in the event at the Place des Martyrs in Dédougou.
March 2022, November 2023. Two dates now in the history of promoting social cohesion and living together in the Boucle du Mouhoun region, particularly in the town of Dédougou. As far as the people of Dédougou know, this is the2nd time that the Solidar Suisse consortium, Sos Sahel International Burkina and its local partner OCADES Caritas/Dédougou have organized a regional community day in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. This activity is part of the “Peace and Social Cohesion” component of the “Strengthening Community Resilience in Agroforestry Households in the Boucle du Mouhoun and Nord Regions (RESICOM)” project. The Boucle du Mouhoun region is rich in socio-ethnic diversity. Dédougou has long been home to 18 communities living in perfect symbiosis, but in recent years, the emergence of certain conflicts and the security challenge facing the region, with its corollary of internally displaced persons, have threatened the social and cultural foundations that once served as a foundation and landmark.
Speakers on the podium recognized and welcomed the relevance of the2nd edition’s theme : ” What strategies for valorizing local mechanisms and knowledge in the promotion of peace and social cohesion ? Dieudonné TOUGFO, President of the Dédougou Special Delegation and representative of the Governor of the Boucle du Mouhoun noted that, ” magnifying the willingness of communities to coexist peacefully, through the organization of a regional community day, both strengthens socio-ethnic ties via the cultural cordon and contributes to building a cultural shield against the disintegration of social cohesion “.
Dieudonné ZAONGO, Country Representative of Solidar Suisse Burkina and leader of the consortium, adds: ” To offer people the opportunity to discover the cultural and culinary specificities, as well as the conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms, of each of the eighteen (18) communities mobilized this evening, including six (6) from the sister and friendly republics of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo, this is the objective pursued by the Solidar Suisse-SOS Sahel International Burkina Faso consortium and its local partner OCADES Dédougou”.
Parade and fair on the bill
Such a day would have been meaningless if the communities and socio-ethnic groups had not been brought to the fore. For the occasion, each of the region’s 18 communities took part in a parade to Martyrs’ Square. A true moment of fraternal communion with the public. The crowd of spectators was able to drink from the wellspring of tradition, admiring the dance rhythms, traditional outfits and finery of the diverse communities.
In addition, the culinary expertise of the various communities was on display at the stands. A final act that no one wanted to miss, even as the daylight faded. It was another moment of sharing between communities, the public and guests. A series of activities marked the2nd edition of the Boucle du Mouhoun regional community day. At the start of the ceremony, Dapoba DIARRA, Chairman of the organizing committee and Regional Director in charge of human rights, reminded us of this. These included community dialogue frameworks, a theatrical performance on endogenous conflict resolution methods, and a radio program on the theme of the2nd edition of the Regional Community Day.
