Tag Archives: Africa

Senegal: Red Cross youth mobilize against violence in Vélingara

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article in Le Quotidien

On August 17, nearly a hundred young volunteers from Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau gathered for the 19th edition of the Red Cross International Twinning Camp. Under the theme “United Youth, Violence Banished,” these first responders are engaging in training sessions, civic actions, and cultural exchange to promote peace in a sub-region facing rising levels of antisocial behavior.

Vélingara served as the capital of peace and solidarity for the day. Faced with a resurgence of brawls involving bladed weapons, tensions surrounding distorted traditions like the *Kankourang*, and political incivility, the Red Cross chose to respond through civic engagement. The Departmental Prefect presided over the official opening ceremony on August 17, joined by patrons, numerous guests, and around a hundred young volunteers aged 2 to 35.

Coming from Dakar, Ziguinchor, Sédhiou, and Kolda—as well as neighboring countries like The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau—these young people transformed Vélingara into a hub of integration.

In his address, the Prefect highlighted the significance of the event: “Vélingara is a living symbol of grassroots sub-regional integration. Through this twinning initiative, the town reaffirms its vocation as a land of refuge, peace, and solidarity.” “Our states share administrative borders, but our peoples share a common history, shared cultures, and identical challenges—such as managing migration flows or climate crises.”

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(Click here for the original article in French.)

Question for this article:

Can a culture of peace be achieved in Africa through local indigenous training and participation?

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A mix of first aid, environmental action, and leadership training

On the ground, the volunteers were kept busy. The packed program combined health awareness, civic engagement, and personal development: HIV/AIDS screening sessions and a community cleanup day (*set-setal*) at the Sinthiang Houlata neighborhood market; courtesy visits to families living near the camp to promote a culture of peace; the construction of eco-friendly benches for the host school; and public first-aid simulations accompanied by leadership workshops designed to hone young people’s public speaking skills. The event also featured an integration day—complete with the playing of national and Red Cross anthems—as well as sports competitions and cultural evenings showcasing regional diversity.

Civic engagement versus the disengagement of elected officials

While the event was a resounding success in human terms, the organizers had to overcome significant logistical hurdles. Crossing the Gambian border proved complicated due to the lack of parental consent forms for several minors.

However, the local Red Cross leaders’ deepest regret concerns the lack of support from policymakers. Not a single mayor in the area responded favorably to requests for financial or material assistance. The supervisors lamented this lack of gratitude—albeit diplomatically—noting that these same local authorities frequently rely on volunteer first responders for their own events without ever providing funding.

Despite these obstacles, the camp stands out as an essential strategic tool. By standardizing intervention methods and establishing cross-border relief networks, these young people demonstrate that solidarity remains the best defense against the slide into violence.

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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Koulikoro, Mali: 80 educators trained to strengthen peace in schools

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Studio Tamani

A workshop focused on the culture of peace, social cohesion, and the integration of internally displaced children opened this Monday, August 24, in Koulikoro.


Training of educators in Koulikoro on strengthening peace in schools, August 24, 2026. Photo credit: Studio Tamani

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Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

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Over the course of five days, 80 educators—including school principals and parents—will build their capacity regarding school safety, the integration of displaced children, and the improvement of learning outcomes.

The event is organized by the Koulikoro Education Academy with support from JCA [Japanese Agency for International Cooperation], through UNICEF.

(Click here for the original version of this article in French)

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Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Leadership in Africa series – President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (aka NNN) of Namibia

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from the Business Day of Nigeria

This column today begins an occasional series to examine governance issues on the continent of Africa.


Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, à Windhoek, le 24 novembre 2024. © SIMON MAINA / AFP

Africa is the richest of the seven continents in the world, and the second largest continent by land mass, though you would not guess that fact from looking at the distorted cartography of the globe that is used to put the continent down. Despite Chinua Achebe’s giant literary effort, through ‘Things fall apart’ , to debunk Joseph Conrad’s and Hugh Trevor-Roper’s wholesale labelling of the land as a ‘Dark Continent’, with no history or self-awareness before the advent of the white man, an aura of dark mystery and negative expectation still pervades any discussion about Africa.

A lot of developments on the continent since countries began to achieve independence from colonial rule have encouraged the narrative. Despite the colourful aura of the early generation of leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, among others, who were inspirational arrowheads of anti-colonial struggles in their countries, things have not played out in a manner to match the optimism of the early days. In many cases the ‘fathers’ themselves have proved to be all too human in their psychological frailties. The attributes required to lead a successful ‘liberation struggle’ have looked somewhat different from what it takes to lead poor, uneducated masses, through the rituals of faulty ‘democracy’, on the path to national growth and rapid development. Many of the countries have descended further into poverty and strife, despite – and sometimes because of, the exertions of their ‘founding fathers’.

A blame game of sorts has ensued. The target has ranged from a purported intrinsic, perhaps genetic, inability of the black race to govern itself, as reflected in the alleged racist trope of the apartheid icon PW Botha, to projection of the responsibility onto the much hated, and much aped, Western world, as depicted eloquently in the classic anti-colonial volume ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’.

Developing the nations of Africa was never going to be a stroll in the park. 1.59 billion people, living in the true geographical centre of the world, with a land mass of 30.37 million square kilometres, covering 20% of Earth’s surface, average among the lowest Human Development Indices in the world, despite flashes of brightness represented by tiny outliers like Seychelles and Mauritius. The continent holds 20% of global reserves of mineral resources and 14% of global total oil reserves.

The owners and inheritors of such a rich continent have no business with poverty. It is an anomaly that the leaders of the 54 nations on the continent are all too aware of. In many cases, they are making determined efforts to change the narrative.

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Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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It is interesting, therefore, to take a random spot view, akin to a slice of an image from a patient’s CT scan, of a few places, and see what is going on, and if there is anything new in prospect.

Take Namibia.

Namibia is a sparsely populated African country with a land area of 825,615 square kilometres and a population of only 3 million people or so. It is racially diverse, with 87% of Namibians being black, 6% white, and 7% of mixed race. The official language is English, though Afrikaans, German and some local languages are also spoken. It gained independence from South Africa in 1990 after a struggle led by the South West African Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), and supported by the international community. It is a country with a troubled history, which includes genocide committed by Germans against the local Herero and Nama people between 1904 and 1907 for resisting their colonial oppression.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, whose nickname is NNN, has been in office since 21st March, 2025. She is the fifth President of Namibia, and the first female. She had earlier served as Vice President, and before that as Minister of Women’s Affairs.

Namibia’s Liberation struggle brought it historically into close affinity with Cuba and the Eastern Block of nations, and many SWAPO stalwarts, like the President herself, received their education in Russia during the Cold War.

With a background in gender activism which is focussed on female education, equality and empowerment, and embedded in a traditional value system that is reticent about LGBTQ and abortion issues, NNN has always been an outspoken lady. Namibia is ranked as an upper middle-class country, but the wealth is in the hands of a small minority, predominantly white, and poverty is rife. She tries to draw a fine line between the racial harmony of Namibia and the situation in South Africa.

It is early days to speak of achievements in the office of President, at barely one year old. As Minister of Women’s Affairs, NNN had pushed Equality Laws and the combating of domestic violence. She had been an active voice internationally on Women, Peace and Security. As President she is driving a close relationship with the private sector to boost job creation, and powering a National Youth Fund dedicated to skills training, apprenticeship and support for Small Scale Enterprises led by youths. She has promoted community empowerment through grassroots programmes for after school and general development. She has decided to offer free education targeted at the poor in public universities and technical colleges. There is a vigorous land reform process in the works. National minerals, which with agriculture form the mainstay of the country’s economy, are to undergo local processing instead of being exported raw. Historical disparities leading to glaring inequities are in focus. There is a push to increase housing for the poor and increase investment in deprived regions.

Hifikepunye Pohamba, one of her predecessors as President, won the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Foundation prize for exemplary African leadership, commitment to democracy and peaceful exit from office in 2014.

Those are big shoes to step into. It would be interesting to watch NNN, and developments in Namibia, over the next few years.

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Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Culture suspends all beauty pageants

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from Radio France International

Beauty pageants in Burkina Faso have come to a halt. On Monday, June 8, the Ministry of Culture announced the suspension of all such competitions pending a review of how they are managed. Authorities cite the need to uphold national cultural values ​​and to align these events with the ideals of the popular progressive revolution.


Noélie Congo Salouka, Director General of Culture and Arts for Burkina Faso. © Facebook/Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism of Burkina Faso

Beauty queens and pageant contestants will no longer appear on stage in Burkina Faso until further notice. The authorities’ goal is to preserve “Burkinabe cultural identity” and “ensure respect for moral values.”

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(click here for the original article in French.)

Question related to this article:

Protecting women and girls against violence, Is progress being made?

The new military governments in Africa: Are they promoting a culture of peace?

(Article continued from left column)

In her statement, Noélie Congo Salouka, Director General of Culture and Arts, explains that this pause is intended to allow for a review of the regulatory framework governing these events, with the aim of imposing stricter controls on their organization. In the meantime, no further permits will be issued.

Criticism

However, within the events sector, the decision came as no surprise. In recent months, beauty pageants had drawn increasing criticism, with some members of the public faulting them for focusing solely on the physical appearance of young women. Sponsors had also become scarcer, putting organizers in financial difficulty.

The fact remains that this suspension threatens to destabilize an entire economic ecosystem: communication agencies, stylists, fashion designers, artists, and performance venues will all be affected while the authorities define a new framework for these competitions.

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Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

African Youth Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and AU Agenda 2063: From Dialogue to Action

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

Special to CPNN from Winner Ogogo

“Beyond the borders that separate us lies a shared purpose, to build an Africa that is peaceful, inclusive, innovative, and driven by the potential of its young people.”

This vision came alive at the 6th African Youth SDGs Summit, held in Accra, Ghana, from 23–25 July 2026, where young leaders, policymakers, innovators, and development practitioners from across the continent gathered to advance conversations on sustainable development and the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The summit reinforced an important reality: Africa’s youth are not merely beneficiaries of development, they are active contributors, innovators, and leaders driving solutions within their communities.

Among the voices contributing to these continental conversations was Winner Ogogo, a Nigerian peacebuilder, communication specialist, and Founder of the Humanitarian Advocacy Peace and Education Initiative (HAPEI). As a panel speaker, she joined fellow leaders in the session, “Breaking Barriers: Unlocking the Full Potential of Women and Marginalized Voices,” where discussions centered on creating inclusive systems that enable women and marginalized communities to fully participate in Africa’s development.

Drawing from her experience in grassroots peacebuilding and youth empowerment, Winner emphasized that sustainable development cannot be achieved without intentional inclusion.

Every voice counts

“When every voice counts, every solution becomes stronger. True inclusion goes beyond representation, it requires creating opportunities for meaningful participation and shared leadership.”

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(Click here for an article on this subject in French.)

Question for this article:

Can the African Union help bring a culture of peace to Africa?

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She further stressed that if Africa is truly committed to the promise of leaving no one behind, then governments, institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners must move beyond symbolic participation. Young people, women, persons with disabilities, indigenous communities, rural populations, and other underrepresented groups must be recognized as partners in shaping policies, designing programmes, and making decisions that directly affect their lives.

The panel highlighted that empowering women and marginalized communities is not solely a matter of social justice; it is a strategic investment in Africa’s peace, economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development. Inclusive societies are more resilient, more prosperous, and better positioned to address the complex challenges facing the continent.

For lasting change

Reflecting on the discussions, Winner concluded:

“Lasting change happens when we move beyond consultation to genuine collaboration, where communities are not merely beneficiaries of development but co-creators of the future we seek to build.”

Beyond the formal sessions, the summit fostered collaboration among delegates from across Africa, creating opportunities for cross-border partnerships, cultural exchange, and shared learning. These interactions reflected the spirit of Pan-Africanism envisioned in Agenda 2063 – an Africa driven by its people, where collaboration, innovation, and unity become the foundation for sustainable progress.

As Africa accelerates efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the aspirations of Agenda 2063, one message emerged clearly from the summit: the continent’s greatest resource is its people, particularly its young people. Investing in youth leadership, promoting gender equality, and ensuring inclusive participation are no longer optional, they are essential for building the peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive Africa we all envision.

The future of Africa will not be shaped by aspirations alone. It will be shaped by young people who are willing to lead, collaborate, and transform ideas into action, one community, one partnership, and one solution at a time.

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Africa, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The China–Gulf axis is reshaping renewable energy in the Global South

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article by Safa Joudeh in the East Asia Forum (reprinted according to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International

The United Arab Emirates and China are jointly delivering utility-scale wind and solar projects, with the former providing diplomatic access and financial firepower and the latter delivering the technology and construction.

In late 2025, the UAE-based company Global South Utilities launched 50-megawatt solar projects in the Central African Republic and Madagascar with Chinese firms supplying core technology. In early 2026, UAE state-owned renewable energy giant Masdar signed an agreement to build and operate the 300-megawatt Guzar Solar and Battery Energy Storage Project in Uzbekistan, again using Chinese photovoltaic modules and battery storage systems.


From Argentina to Costa Rica and Chile, Masdar is looking to replicate this model through partnerships with Latin American state-run energy projects, with China serving as the critical enabler anchoring supply chains, co-financing deals and deploying infrastructure at scale.

This pattern of China–UAE cooperation is likely to accelerate as global energy markets remain volatile following the US–Israeli war on Iran. Governments across the Global South are seeking to diversify into renewable energy sources, creating new market opportunities for emerging players. While this pattern first emerged due to energy disruptions in the wake of the pandemic, increased volatility in global energy markets in the wake of the US–Israeli war on Iran promises to further accelerate this trend

The China–UAE renewable energy axis is more than a commercial partnership. It is a convergence of state-capitalist models that is reshaping energy transitions in the Global South. By jointly expanding their global energy engagements, China and the UAE are systematically extending their strategic and commercial footprints in global energy markets, and in doing so ushering in an increasingly multipolar global energy order.

Fossil fuels still supply nearly 60 per cent of global electricity generation, with nuclear accounting for 9 per cent and renewables around one third. But the balance is beginning to shift, as renewables now drive nearly three-quarters of the year-on-year growth in electricity generation — even as fossil-fuel output continues to rise.

The drivers are largely economic. Hybrid solar and wind systems combined with battery storage can now deliver electricity at costs competitive with coal and gas. With financing and infrastructure support, green transitions are not only viable but financially rational.

Geopolitical shocks have strengthened this shift, beginning with the disruption to global oil and gas markets following international sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies 80 per cent of crude oil and 90 per cent of liquefied natural gas bound for Asian markets, has triggered a severe oil supply shock.

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Question for this article:

Are we making progress in renewable energy?

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Policy responses have been contradictory. Some governments have sought to ensure fossil fuel accessibility by ramping up coal output and reinstating energy subsidies. But the crisis has also accelerated a longer-term reorientation. India is fast-tracking its wind and solar pipelines alongside emergency coal measures, while Indonesia has ordered 100 gigawatts of solar capacity and is targeting full vehicle electrification. The Philippines has also fast-tracked 1.5 gigawatts of renewable projects to secure domestic power delivery.

Against this backdrop, Chinese and Gulf companies, primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are positioned to supply renewable energy infrastructure. As the world’s largest green technology producer, China already holds a structural advantage. It controls 80–90 per cent of global solar photovoltaic manufacturing capacity while Chinese firms account for 78 per cent of the global wind turbine market. Chinese firms are also dominant in lithium-ion battery production and the processing of rare earth elements and critical minerals.

A decade of state-backed investment has driven solar photovoltaic and battery production costs down by 90 per cent, eroding the market share of Western companies like Vestas and Siemens and making Chinese firms dominant global suppliers of reliable, low-cost energy technologies.

But rising trade barriers in the West and parts of Asia, along with geopolitical tensions, have curtailed Chinese firms’ role as developers. China is responding by pivoting from developer to enabler, partnering with Gulf entities like Masdar, AMEA Power and Saudi Arabia’s Acwa to finance and develop projects that deploy Chinese technology.

The logic of the alliance is straightforward. Gulf sovereign wealth-backed developers collaborate with Chinese suppliers and contractors to construct renewable energy facilities. Gulf companies originate, design and manage projects, using diplomatic relationships to win concessions and secure financing. Chinese entities remain involved as suppliers and engineering, procurement and construction contractors. As structural demand surges in markets where the China–Gulf axis is active, these actors are positioned as the most competitive bidders for tenders across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Masdar’s state backing gives it an exceptionally low cost of capital, enabling it to bid the lowest electricity tariffs seen in any emerging market and win government tenders across Asia, including in Uzbekistan and Indonesia. It has also set a record low solar tariff in Africa through a joint venture in Cote d’Ivoire.

Masdar relies on Chinese suppliers and contractors to win competitive tenders while bypassing Western manufacturers. The result is deeper entrenchment of Chinese technology and supply chains across Global South energy infrastructure.

The China–Gulf axis is reshaping who builds and finances renewable energy in the Global South. More importantly, it is also influencing where projects are built, on what political terms and within whose geostrategic orbit countries access and govern their energy future.

The International Energy Agency projects global renewable electricity capacity will expand by thousands of gigawatts by 2030, with global state-backed utilities positioned to dominate this landscape. The emerging risk is that the energy transition, conceived as an ecological project, is being consolidated into a new model of capital accumulation and infrastructure dependency, with a new set of state-backed green utility managers at its centre.

Africa, East Asia, Mideast, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ,

Burkina Faso/Culture: The 6th edition of FESCUSAN opens its doors at the Jean-Pierre Guingané Cultural Center

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article in Le Faso

The 6th edition of the San Culture Festival (FESCUSAN) officially opened on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Ouagadougou. Scheduled to run until May 31 at the Jean-Pierre Guingané Cultural Center, the event highlights the cultural, artistic, and gastronomic values ​​of the San people.

Under the theme “Culture: A Factor of Peace and Unity in a Multiethnic Burkina Faso,” this edition brings together the sons and daughters of the San community to promote their rich cultural heritage within a context of social cohesion and… Living together. The Dafing (Marka) community is the guest of honor at this 6th edition.


Video

For four days, several cultural activities will punctuate the festival. Visitors will be able to discover traditional dances and songs, visit a craft exhibition, and also explore San cuisine, which will be featured throughout the event.

The organizers invite the people of Ouagadougou to come to the Jean-Pierre Guingané Cultural Center to discover the cultural specificities of the San people and share moments of fraternity around traditional Burkinabè values.

The festival’s promoter, who is also the president of the organizing committee, Urbain Toé, emphasized that this San cultural festival is not just a festive event but a place of remembrance, education, appreciation, and transmission. “At a time when the challenges of globalization threaten cultural homogeneity, it is our duty to preserve what our ancestors have given us.” “Our most precious legacy is our cultural identity,” he emphasized. According to him, the festival aims to showcase San culture in all its forms: language, traditional dances and music, crafts and weaving, gastronomy, and many other forms of knowledge.

Representing the Minister of Culture at the opening ceremony, Marguerite Douanio praised the festival’s importance in safeguarding and transmitting national cultural heritage. “The San people, through their language, social organization, and artistic and spiritual practices, have built an invaluable cultural heritage over centuries. FESCUSAN, now in its 6th edition, is a precious opportunity to revisit this wealth, revive it, share it, and above all, pass it on to younger generations. Through traditional dances and songs, masks, craft exhibitions, and local cuisine, this festival highlights everything that makes our heritage so grand and unique.” “This festival is a cultural event,” emphasized the representative of the Minister of Culture.

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(Click here for the French version of this article)

Question related to this article:

 

Can festivals help create peace at the community level?

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For her, this festival is also a platform for dialogue between the past and the present, between tradition and modernity, and between generations. “In a global context marked by globalization, it is imperative for each people to strengthen its cultural identity so as not to dissolve into a uniform mold. This festival therefore constitutes a strong and resolute response to this challenge of our time. I would like to emphasize here that culture is not a heritage frozen in the past. It is dynamic, evolving, and alive. It is also a factor in economic, social, and even political development. Cultural and creative industries offer opportunities for employment, income, and exchange. Traditional crafts, gastronomy, and musical instruments are export products and drivers of innovation.

That is why I am calling on young people: embrace your culture. Do not see it as mere folklore, but as a solid foundation upon which to build an authentic and prosperous future. Be proud of your heritage.” “Origins, names, languages, rites, and traditions. Progress does not mean abandoning oneself, but rather valuing who we are in harmony with others,” stated Ms. Douanio.

According to the sponsors’ representative, Mathieu Boro, the San community, through this festival, demonstrates once again its immense cultural richness, its resilience, and above all, its commitment to preserving, promoting, and transmitting its cultural identity to present and future generations. “In an increasingly globalized world, where cultures tend to become more uniform, it is imperative for each community to reclaim its roots, strengthen its sense of identity, and defend its tangible and intangible heritage.

This festival is therefore not just a simple celebration. It is an act of remembrance, an act of transmission.”

It is also a space for dialogue between generations, a bridge between the glorious past, the dynamic present, and the future we hope will be rich in values. These values ​​are not just words. They are at the heart of our traditional conflict management mechanisms. Before modern institutions were established, it was our traditional chiefs, our elders, our griots, our blacksmiths, who worked every day to maintain social peace, reconcile families, and prevent violence,” Mr. Boro explained.

For Céline Zina Bayé, representative of the Dafing community (Marka), true peace is not decreed solely through political agreements. Rather, it is built, step by step, in hearts and minds, through education, mutual respect, listening, and dialogue. “This is where culture plays an irreplaceable role.” Through music, dance, storytelling, proverbs, and traditional ceremonies, San culture teaches solidarity, justice, conviviality, and respect for others. Yes, peace can emerge from culture when it is used as a lever for inclusion, sharing, and unity. And this is how we will move from peace through culture to a true culture of peace. This requires a profound paradigm shift: considering culture not as a luxury or a distraction, but as a pillar of development, a tool for resilience, and a gentle weapon against violence and intolerance,” she noted. She concluded by thanking the organizers for the honor bestowed upon their community with this edition.

Through this cultural initiative, the festival organizers intend to contribute to strengthening national unity and promoting cultural diversity in Burkina Faso.

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Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

UNESCO International Forum of NGOs: Advancing a Culture of Peace in Africa

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An announcement from UNESCO

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris | 19, 21 and 22 May 2026
Held in the framework of Africa Week 2026, the International Forum of NGOs will bring together representatives of Member States, the African Union, civil society, youth and UNESCO partners to advance dialogue and cooperation on building a Culture of Peace in Africa. The Forum will feature a high-level opening panel, thematic discussions and exchanges highlighting the role of civil society in advancing inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies, including through youth engagement, education, water cooperation, culture, inclusion and community-based approaches to social cohesion across the continent.

Excerpts from the Forum programme

Day 1 Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Official Opening

Remarks by Ms Åsa Regnér, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO

Remarks by Ms Svetlomira Stoyanova, Chairperson NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

Master of Ceremony: Mr Davide Grosso, NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

High-Level Panel: “Building a Culture of Peace in Africa – Lessons from the Past, Realities of the Present, Visions for the Future”

Moderator: Mr Julien Pellaux, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Partnerships

(Participants from UNESCO headquarters)

Question related to this article:

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

Day 2 Thursday, 21 May 2026 (

Building Blocks of Peace: Water, Education and Youth

Introduction of the Forum by the NGO Forum co-chairs:

Session 1: “Water as a Catalyst for Cooperation: From Scarcity to Shared Security”

Moderator: Ms Svetlomira Stoyanova, Chairperson NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

(Videos presentations from South Africa and Algeria)

(Panel with participants from UNESCO headquarters and Zimbabwe)

Session 2: “Reimagining Education Systems as Engines of Peace”

Moderator: Ms Nisrine Ibn Abdeljalil (Morocco), Executive Director of the Moroccan Fondation for PreSchool (FMPS)

(Panel with participants from UNESCO headquarters, Togo, Kenya, Burundi and Senegal)

Session 3: “Youth as Co-Architects of Peace and Stability”

Moderator: Ms Melissa Mejía Flórez (Colombia), New Humanity, Communications Coordinator and Strategic Advisor

(Panel with participants from Brazil, Italy, DR Congo, Cameroon, Tanzania, France, Colombia and USA)

Day 3 Friday, 22 May 2026

Culture, Inclusion & Community-Based Peacebuilding

Session 4: “Fostering a Culture of Peace within Communities”

Moderator: Mr Davide Grosso, International Music Council, NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

(Panel with participants from Zimbabwe, African Union, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, South Africa and Togo.

Closing session

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Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, United Nations

Burkina Faso: An inter-institutional cultural day to celebrate social cohesion 

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the News Agency of Burkina Faso

The youth of the commune of Kokologho celebrated, on Saturday, April 25, an inter-institutional cultural day under the banner of social cohesion. 
 
Organised around the theme “Responsible Youth, a Better Future”, this cultural immersion mobilized local, customary and school authorities in the town’s conference room.

The initiative, led by local educational stakeholders, has a clear objective: to strengthen resilience and cohesion among the people of Kokologho, the teaching staff, and the students. Beyond simply fostering interaction, it aims to stimulate civic engagement and solidarity among young people to build a peaceful future.

(Click here for the article in French.)

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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The President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of Kokologho, guest of honor at the ceremony, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout. He commended the students’ creativity and the relevance of this initiative, which promotes community spirit in a context where unity is paramount.

For the event’s patron, His Majesty Naaba Sigri, this day is a lever for safeguarding local identity.

“This is a great joy for me. I commend the leaders who took this initiative to bring together students and the entire population for the preservation of culture. I ask the authorities to support these young people in their mission to promote academic excellence and solidarity,” he pleaded.
 
Echoing this sentiment, co-sponsor Cheick Abdoul Karim Sawadogo expressed his admiration for the youth’s enthusiasm. He stated that this strong mobilization for culture sends a powerful message in favor of tolerance and a culture of peace within the community.
 
The day was marked by various artistic performances, illustrating the richness of the cultural heritage of the Boulkiemdé province, under the benevolent gaze of religious and traditional leaders.

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Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Muslims and Christians United in a Collective Iftar for Peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Burkina24 (translation by CPNN)

In Ouagadougou, interfaith fraternity was expressed around a shared table. On Friday, March 13, 2026, the Movement for a Culture of Peace and Love of the Homeland (MPAP), in collaboration with the Cheick Moaze Foundation for Social Cohesion, Peace, and Charity, organized a collective iftar bringing together Muslims, Christians, and members of other faiths.

This collective breaking of the fast of Ramadan is part of the “Stop Xtrem” project, a civic initiative aimed at preventing religious extremism and the violence that stems from it. Through this initiative, the organizers also hope to encourage dialogue between different faiths and promote a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.

According to them, fostering such opportunities for interaction helps to strengthen social cohesion and reinforce bonds of solidarity among the various segments of Burkinabè society.

The president of the Movement for a Culture of Peace and Love of the Homeland (MPAP), Paul Marie Zoma, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout during this spiritual period marked by both Ramadan for Muslims and Lent for Christians.

He stated that these two periods remind us of shared values ​​such as self-control, humility, forgiveness, generosity, and love of one’s neighbor.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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“Our country has always been recognized for the quality of its interfaith coexistence.” This wealth must be preserved and strengthened. By sharing this moment, we send a message of hope, that of a united Burkina Faso, in solidarity and resolutely committed to the path of peace,” he affirmed.

Present at the ceremony, religious leader Cheikh Moaze also praised the initiative, which he considers a powerful symbol of fraternity. According to him, every believer must learn to accept others with respect and fairness. He reminded everyone that the Quran teaches Muslims to be just and benevolent towards all, including non-Muslims.

“We must learn to accept one another and respect our differences. We must break down the barriers between the children of Adam and Eve, for only God can judge His children,” he declared. From the Catholic Church, Paul Tiendrébeogo, president of the parish committee for interreligious dialogue, also welcomed this initiative, which promotes fraternity among believers. According to him, Ramadan and Lent are periods of purification and drawing closer to God.

“By sharing this moment of breaking the fast, we affirm together that peace begins with simple gestures: meeting, talking, sharing, and respecting one another. This is how we build a society founded on solidarity, fraternity, and love of country,” he declared.
Representing the Presidency of Burkina Faso, Dr. Samuel Kalkumdo, Minister-Advisor to the President, emphasized the fundamental unity of the Burkinabè people. According to him, beyond religious or ethnic affiliations, all must consider themselves members of the same nation.

“We are all sons and daughters of Burkina Faso,” he affirmed, praising the foresight of Captain Ibrahim Traoré and calling on the Burkinabè people to remain united behind him to build a strong and cohesive nation in the face of current challenges. The meeting was also attended by several traditional and religious leaders as well as civil authorities.

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Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY