Ouagadougou, The Gambia's honorary consul in Burkina Faso, Hammadoun Dicko, displayed on Saturday his conviction that the security crisis will soon be a thing of the past, but that communities must learn to live together again, while respecting their cultural differences.
“I have the firm conviction that if we add the cultural weapon to the action of our FDS and VDP, we will win the battle (against terrorism, editor's note) more quickly. Soon we will talk about the security crisis in the past tense (because) important work is being done at the moment. We can all see it,” Hammadoun Dicko said on Saturday.
The Gambia's honorary consul in Burkina Faso spoke in Ouagadougou, at the opening of the Pulaaku International Festival of which he is the sponsor of the fifth edition, under the theme: "the contribution of our cultural expressions to the strengthening of cohesion and the fight against violent extremism.
However, according to Mr. Dicko, after the crisis, communities will have to learn to live together again in their cultural differences, understanding that what unites them is more essential than what divides them.
As a reminder, Burkina Faso has been facing terrorist attacks for eight years which have caused the loss of several people, caused the massive displacement of populations and weakened in certain localities, the legendary social cohesion between populations.
“I would like to emphasize the fact that in Mossi blood, there is Fulani blood. In Fulani blood, there is Bissa blood. In Bissa blood, there is Bobo blood. And this is valid for all communities living in Burkina Faso,” said Hammadoun Dicko.
The Pulaaku Festival, which returns after five years of interruption, aims to be a bridge to unite the daughters and sons of Burkina Faso in the quest for peace and social cohesion, said its promoter Boureima Barry.
“We have lived together for a long time (in peace) and today it is in our interest to sit down, reflect and ensure that reason returns to its place, above emotion. We must understand, as UNESCO has always said: 'Any war that begins in the spirit of man, it is in this same spirit that we can develop and build the defenses of peace'", explained Mr. Barry.
For the Minister in charge of Culture and government spokesperson, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, the Pulaaku Festival is a laudable initiative because it allows populations to strengthen ties.
“In a difficult security context, these events are indicators of the rebirth of the people's hope and their determination to remain standing, standing against the forces of evil who are vainly trying to disrupt our living together,” maintained the minister. .
According to him, “these cultural initiatives corroborate the action of the Transitional Government and the Combatant Forces, determined to defeat the terrorist hydra and to complete the reconquest of our territory, with a view to making Burkina Faso a haven of peace”.
The Pulaaku Festival continues at CENASA until Sunday, and is marked by panels, exhibitions and artistic performances.
Source: Burkina Information Agency