The Jam Coalition for Peace and Social Cohesion organized on July 29, 2023 in the village hall of the town hall of Banfora, a meeting called ” day of dialogue and awareness for peace and social cohesion in the Cascades region. Placed under the theme “role and responsibility of opinion leaders in building peace and living well together in a context of strong security challenges”, this consultation brought together representatives of the different socio-professional strata of the region. The opening ceremony was chaired by Jean Charles dit Yénapono Somé, Governor of the Cascades.
Indeed, like all the regions of the country affected by the terrorist threat, the Cascades region is also experiencing a “worrying” deterioration in relations between the members of the various communities that populate it.
During the month of May, an audio attributed to a terrorist almost caused discord between the communities in the Cascades region, argued Belko BARRY, president of the JAM Coalition.
This is why the Jam Coalition, concerned about such a situation with multiple risks, the JAM Coalition for Peace and Social Cohesion (CJPaCS) undertook the organization of a consultation meeting in Banfora, with a view to advocating peace and understanding between the different components of this region They were opinion leaders, heads of the defense and security forces and their auxiliaries, representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to participate in this meeting.
During this consultation, the participants were entitled to presentations followed by discussions. These focused, among other things, on peace, living well together, security challenges and appropriate solutions.
For the Governor of the Cascades Jean Charles dit Yénapono SOME, “the day of dialogue and awareness for peace and social cohesion is therefore presented as a framework for the promotion and exaltation of our common values but also of our specificities, by putting highlights our common belonging to the same land of Burkina Faso”.
This is why he expressed his gratitude to the JAM Coalition, organizer of this day, which supports efforts to promote peace and living together in the Cascades region.
In view of the strong mobilization and enthusiasm that this consultation aroused, the Governor was delighted.
“I have faith that this day, which mobilizes a large section of the Living Forces of our region and which sounds like a collective awareness of the threats to our living together, will contribute to laying the groundwork for a sincere struggle by all (leaders community, customary, religious, youth, women) against hatred, stigma and discrimination in all their forms,” he said.
Search for Peace and Social Cohesion: credo of Coalition JAM
“Peace remains the star that should guide us at all times and in all circumstances. Our words, our silences, all our actions must be justified or motivated by the search for peace. It is our quest for peace that brings us together here today”; suggested the Governor. This is why he reiterated his thanks to the JAM Coalition for Peace and Social Cohesion for its action in favor of peace, solidarity, dialogue and human rights.
Need we remind you, the JAM Coalition for Peace and Social Cohesion (CJPaCS), also known as the “JAM Coalition” is a civil society organization created in 2020.
To this end, it works for the promotion of peace, living well together, social mutual aid, religious tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The JAM Coalition is represented by cells of focal points distributed up to the departmental level. It has already carried out several activities, including a caravan for peace and cohesion which, for two months, traveled through localities under strong terrorist influence to advocate peace and social cohesion.
She also mediated two local conflicts in Bourasso in the Kossi province, Boucle du Mouhoun region and in Kokorowè, Houet province in the Hauts-Bassins.
Source: Burkina Information Agency