Burkina Faso: Training border communities to counter cross-border threats
Burkina Faso, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a training and awareness workshop for border communities in the Centre-South and Centre-East regions. This initiative, held from November 25 to 28, 2024, in Manga, the capital of the Centre-South region, aims to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking, corruption, terrorism, and insecurity.
Under the presidency of Moustapha Y. Konaté, the technical advisor to the governor of the region, this meeting is part of the project “Building Sustainable Peace: Supporting Burkina Faso’s Capacity to Understand, Prevent, and Counter Terrorism Financing Threats,” financed by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) through the UNDP.
The workshop aims to strengthen local communities’ understanding of the links between trafficking, illicit flows, corruption, and terrorism, while highlighting their crucial role in preventing and fighting against these threats. Furthermore, participants were sensitized to the importance of cross-border cooperation, a key lever for promoting peace and security in these vulnerable areas.
Salimata Dabal, Permanent Secretary of the National Border Commission (SP-CNF), emphasized the importance of equipping communities with the necessary tools to address the scourges affecting the border areas. She also stressed their role in preserving peace and social cohesion.
At the end of this training, participants are encouraged to share the knowledge acquired and apply it in their respective localities. In addition to educating the population on issues related to terrorism and illicit flows, the workshop allowed for exchanges on the border situation between Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo.
The project, which benefits from the technical and financial support of the UNDP, reflects the Burkinabe government’s commitment to strengthening local capacities and promoting effective cross-border cooperation.
Moustapha Y. Konaté concluded by emphasizing the importance of this workshop in combating cross-border threats, urging participants to play an active role in securing the borders and in strengthening regional peace.
