Peace caravans promote social cohesion in Benin and Burkina Faso

Community-led peace initiatives are being implemented across West Africa to combat violent extremism and strengthen social cohesion. In Benin, the communes of Gogounou and Pèrèrè hosted ‘Peace Caravans’ in June 2026. This initiative, part of a violent extremism prevention project, aimed to establish pools of peace messengers and counter hate speech through public displays and local language translations of messages promoting religious respect and dialogue.

In Burkina Faso, the Association Jeunes Faiseurs de Paix organized the ‘Graines de cohésion’ caravan in the 11th arrondissement of Ouagadougou. The event emphasized the importance of dialogue and respect for differences as foundations for collective resilience. Local leaders and religious figures participated, highlighting the need for concrete actions and the prevention of religious instrumentalization to avoid community division.