Burkina faso: The Sunni community of Burkina Faso celebrated the Tabaski festival on Wednesday in Ouagadougou, on the grounds of the Ouaga 2000 conference hall, under the leadership of Imam Mahmoud Ou©draogo, who called on the faithful to be patient, tolerant, and to forgive, in a context marked by many security and social challenges.

According to Burkina Information Agency, in his sermon, Imam Mahmoud Ou©draogo invited Muslims to cultivate the values of peace, solidarity, and listening to religious and administrative authorities. He emphasized that this message of patience and attentiveness is being echoed throughout the national territory. “If you go to Bobo or Dori, you will hear the same message. So, we ask all brothers to be patient and listen to those in charge,” he stated. Additionally, he urged the faithful to strengthen mutual aid towards vulnerable people, particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs), during this period of Eid al-Adha celebration.

A government delegation led by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr. Aboubacar Nacanabo, accompanied by the Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, Aminata Zerbo/Saban©, took part in the prayer alongside the Sunni community. According to Minister Nacanabo, Burkina Faso is going through a period where national unity remains essential to meet the challenges facing the country. “Today we are in a context where we face many challenges and the only solution that can allow us to face them is the unity and communion of action of all Muslims, all Christians and all Burkinabe, all faiths combined,” he said. The minister praised the content of the imam’s sermon, which focused on solidarity, tolerance, and patriotic commitment.

“You listened well to the imam’s sermons. He truly highlighted the need to be united, to be tolerant, and above all, to commit to one’s country,” he added. For Dr. Nacanabo, the celebration of Tabaski should also be a time for reflection on the difficulties experienced by certain segments of the population. “Burkina Faso has a great opportunity to unite and join hands so that the country can move forward. The celebration is a good occasion to come together and celebrate, but it is important to remember that around us there are people in difficulty, particularly internally displaced persons, whom we must not forget,” he concluded.