Burkina Faso Regional Program BI-WEEKLY REPORT April 25-May 8, 2020

Customary leaders play a crucial role in addressing violent extremism in these regions. In the Est region, which borders Niger, Benin, and Togo, armed groups have carried out numerous attacks, utilizing methods of control and intimidation such as identity checkpoints, abductions, and targeted assassinations. To empower customary leaders, BFRP trained 73 customary leaders and their representatives, including 22 women, on understanding violent extremism and its implications. The training aims to unite participants to organize feedback sessions with other leaders and set up vigilance committees in each village to promote messages of peace and cohesion, as well as traditional values. A local leader emphasized the importance of awareness and unity in restoring peace through the promotion of traditional values, stating that some individuals joined extremist groups due to ignorance about the issues and consequences of violent extremism. In the Sahel region, BFRP trained customary and religious leaders to better understand violent extremism and its impact on communities. The training aimed to develop a community safety plan to address the lack of security in the region. The plan focuses on changing the mindset of community members to adopt a more proactive approach, including early warning mechanisms for security events and ways to report suspicious behavior. A training workshop was conducted from May 5 to 7, where community leaders reviewed the safety plan and discussed its implementation. The community safety plan emphasizes the importance of social cohesion, ethnic and religious tolerance, solidarity between communities, and improved resource management in preserving the stability of the area. The plan aims to promote a proactive approach to security issues at the local level, enabling community members to respond effectively to security threats. By empowering customary leaders and promoting community safety, BFRP seeks to mitigate the destabilizing effects of violence and insecurity in the Est, Nord, and Sahel regions. The training and community safety plan initiatives are part of BFRP's ongoing efforts to bolster the community response and engagement on the ongoing security crisis in Burkina Faso. By working with customary leaders and community members, BFRP aims to promote peace, cohesion, and stability in the region. The program's focus on community-led initiatives and traditional values is critical in addressing the root causes of violent extremism and promoting a more secure and stable environment.