Ouagadougou: Chief Warrant Officer Abdou Kinda held a book signing for his novel "Sand and Memory," which promotes local methods of conflict management. The book emphasizes the use of nature, particularly sand and millet, as solutions to the Sahel crisis. Kinda highlighted the importance of local actors and methods in conflict resolution, warning that external approaches are often ineffective.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the book's presenter, Dr. Parfait Ilboudo, described the 98-page novel, composed of six chapters, as a journey into the village of Koumi. The story follows Modibo, who returns after 35 years to a changed land filled with silent tensions and fragmented memories. The narrative promotes restorative justice focused on reparation rather than condemnation, using symbols like sand and millet to represent memory and shared human labor.

The book also aims to engage young people by featuring the story of a repentant terrorist warning against extremism. It advocates for providing opportunities to youth to protect them from the allure of terrorist groups. Dr. Ilboudo emphasized the importance of spreading the author's message and called for increased community awareness and development initiatives.

Chief Warrant Officer Kinda explained that "Sand and Memory" is more than just a novel; it reflects the real security and human challenges of the Sahel region. He expressed his intent to preserve these memories and experiences through his writing. Kinda also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Defense and Security Forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, committing 20% of the book's sales to support their families.

The book is priced at 3,500 CFA francs and is available at the Army Cultural Centre and by contacting 70 02 34 10.