Ouagadougou: The Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Pengdwend© Gilbert Ou©draogo, congratulated, on Sunday, the chief of Manga, Naaba Kiiba II, and the chief of Kaya, Sanmanteng Naaba Koom, for establishing a joking alliance between the people of Manga and Kaya, effectively ending a 32-year conflict.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the congratulatory remarks were made during the closing ceremony of the Mang-Kaya Rakiir© Festival, which took place from May 2 to 4, 2025, in Manga. The joking alliance, established with the help of former governor Casimir Segueda, symbolizes a significant step toward peace and social cohesion by ending the long-standing discord that originated from a 1988 clash after a football match.

Minister Ou©draogo highlighted the role of leadership in resolving crises, applauding the chiefs of Manga and Kaya for their proactive efforts. He emphasized the importance of traditional values, like the joking alliance, in fostering peace and preventing conflicts, noting that it prohibits any warlike acts between the involved groups.

The conflict, which began in 1988, resulted in loss of life and property damage, including the burning of a sports team's bus. The resolution, through traditional means, underscores the potential of cultural practices in conflict resolution.

Ou©draogo lamented the diminishing awareness of such traditional practices among Burkinabe, attributing it to certain deviant behaviors. He asserted the ministry's commitment to promoting traditional values like joking kinship to enhance social harmony across Burkina Faso.

The minister also expressed support for the Mang-Kaya Rakiir© Festival, pledging to address the organizers' concerns and incorporate the event into the ministry's activities. He announced plans for a monument in Manga to commemorate the joking alliance and the resolution of the 32-year conflict.