Burkina Faso: we know a little more about local committees for dialogue with armed groups

#Other countries : Adopted by the Council of Ministers on April 13, 2022, the decree creating local committees for dialogue with armed groups is becoming clearer.

In Burkina Faso, the government has agreed to the establishment of local dialogue committees for the restoration of peace. These committees, the number of which will vary according to the needs on the ground, will be responsible for conducting dialogue with the armed groups active in certain parts of the country.

For the Minister in charge of Social Cohesion, Yéro Boly, who is coordinator of the new initiative, the State wants above all to frame the dialogue with the young Burkinabè who have joined the terrorists.

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“Because we are confident that these commitments will have no impact on the sovereignty, secularism and independence of Burkina Faso, we supervise this type of dialogue,” explained the Minister of State.

According to the minister, this measure in no way reflects an admission of powerlessness by the government in the face of terrorism. It is an initiative that the authorities consider capable of reconciling the Burkinabè.

The dialogue will therefore take place in the villages, particularly in areas with strong security challenges where combatants have already expressed the need to speak to their notables. Managers whom they consider credible, capable of making commitments and respecting them.

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“As I told you, the army continues its work. My job is to supervise the local dialogue committees for the restoration of peace. These are two different things,” insisted Boly.

And the minister added that contrary to a certain rumor, Moustapha Chafi (adviser from the shadows) has absolutely nothing to do with this typically endogenous file. He also denied that concerning the budget of 100 million CFA which would have been allocated to the initiative.