Gaoua: The Islamic Studies, Research and Training Center (CERFI), through its DJAMA BEOG NERE project, has launched a two-day training session focused on enhancing the capacity of religious leaders, imams, and preachers in Gaoua. This initiative is designed to promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in alignment with Islamic teachings.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Yacouba Lingani, who represented the governor of the Dj´r´ region, emphasized the significance of this training. He noted that it is timely, given the national context of security and social challenges. The initiative aligns with new legislation on religious freedoms, which underscores the importance of promoting peace and social unity in Burkina Faso.

Lingani encouraged participants to engage actively with the training content, enabling them to disseminate messages of peace within their mosques and communities. Dr. Kadr© Sawadogo, the first vice-president of CERFI and national coordinator of the DJAMA BEOG NERE project, highlighted that the activity is part of a broader effort to bolster population resilience by promoting peace, social cohesion, and human rights.

Sawadogo pointed out that Burkina Faso's ongoing security and humanitarian crisis has weakened social cohesion and facilitated extremist rhetoric. Consequently, CERFI is committed to equipping religious leaders with the tools to spread messages of peace and tolerance grounded in Islamic teachings.

The DJAMA BEOG NERE project involves advocacy meetings and training workshops aimed at empowering Muslim leaders, imams, preachers, women, and youth on social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. It seeks to develop local peace initiatives in collaboration with these groups. The 32-month project spans twelve regions and twenty municipalities within Burkina Faso.

The Gaoua training session, set for July 7-8, will enable participants to deepen their understanding of social cohesion and implement practical actions to ensure sustainable peace in their communities.