Kaya, the vibrant capital of Kuilse (Burkina Faso’s Centre-Nord region), has become a refuge for hundreds of displaced people. The region hosted 486,337 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in February 2023 according to SP/CONASUR. However, the influx of newcomers has not been without challenges. Competition for land, water, and resources has fuelled tensions between refugees and host communities, sometimes escalating into intercommunal conflicts, ethnic stigmatization, land disputes.
Training for peace
To address these issues, Réseau Afrique Jeunesse, Santé et Développement of the Centre-North (RAJ-SD/CN), in partnership with PAX, has organized conflict management training since October 2021. These workshops, attended by both displaced persons and residents, including community leaders – traditional chiefs, religious leaders, youth and women leaders – focus on coexistence, social cohesion, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution.
‘We have learned how to live together and why it is necessary,’ says Zeinabou Ouedraogo, one of the participants. ‘In society, words can unite us or divide us. These trainings help us manage our differences and live peacefully side by side.’
The impact is tangible. In one IDPs’ camp, for example, a long-standing conflict was resolved when participants applied the skills they learned. ‘Thanks to the training, we were able to discuss our disagreements and form a new committee,’ explains Sayouba Ouedraogo.
Traditional leaders as peace ambassadors
RAJS’s approach extends beyond the classroom. By recognizing the importance of traditional leaders, the organization has engaged over fifty Mossi and Fulani leaders in dialogue and capacity building. In 2021, these leaders laid the foundation for a network of ‘councils of elders’ in each canton, tasked with mediation and promoting unity.
‘Our ancestors understood the value of peace and understanding,’ says Nabaa Koom, a Mossi leader. ‘We are committed to reviving these traditions so that our children and grandchildren can live in harmony.’
A model for the future
Over the past five years, more than 400 people have been trained in conflict management, including 75 religious leaders from Muslim, Protestant, and Catholic communities. Over twenty community dialogues have been held, and more than 120 traditional chiefs have been sensitized to peacebuilding.
The RAJS initiative, supported by PAX, has demonstrated that local, culturally rooted solutions can overcome even deep-seated divisions.
‘What has been achieved here is remarkable,’ says Roger Minoungou of PAX in Burkina Faso. ‘These mechanisms deserve to be replicated elsewhere so that more communities can benefit from sustainable peace.’
The experiences from Kaya offer hope. By combining tradition and innovation, dialogue and action, communities are not only resolving conflicts – they are also laying the foundation for a peaceful future.
