More than 200 participants—herders, farmers, community leaders, and local authorities—gathered on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, in Badia-Salifou, a locality situated about thirty kilometers from Kaga-Bandoro. Organized by MINUSCA's Civil Affairs section, this information-sharing meeting marks a decisive turning point toward conflict prevention and stronger social cohesion ahead of the new transhumance season.
For a long time, the Badia-Salifou area was the scene of intense tensions. Crop destruction and cattle theft had gradually fostered a climate of mistrust and fear among the population. One of the first major impacts of this day of dialogue was breaking the isolation between communities and enabling open discussion about daily struggles, thereby easing minds and restoring confidence among local actors. Zita, a local farmer, speaks to this reality: “The problems we experienced with transhumance in the past meant that when we went to the fields, we worked in fear.”
From retaliation to the return of the rule of law
The initiative also fostered a fundamental shift in mindset away from cycles of revenge. By bringing all actors together around the same table, the meeting encouraged a collective realization: violence can no longer serve as justice. For Richard, a meeting participant, returning to institutional mechanisms remains the only sustainable path forward. “Before, it wasn't like this. When a herder caught a thief, he brought him to the authorities. They put him in prison to teach others a lesson instead of killing him. We don't want that anymore. We want peaceful transhumance this year,” he stated.
Traditional leaders fully share this perspective, viewing awareness-raising as a concrete tool for lasting peace. Ngate Daniel, chief of Badia 3 village, emphasized the importance of this dynamic: “We no longer want the population to steal cattle from the Fulani, nor do we want the Fulani to destroy our fields. That is why we continue these awareness activities.”
Concrete solutions and a renewed pact of trust
Beyond the discussions, this initiative generates direct operational outcomes for the security of Nana-Gribizi residents. Participants notably called for strict respect for and demarcation of transhumance corridors—a key measure backed by Severin Djonigba, chief of Badia village, to prevent overlap between agricultural areas and grazing land. At the same time, gathering ground-level information enables MINUSCA and local actors to anticipate friction points before they escalate.
Fred Bitindji, MINUSCA Civil Affairs Assistant, highlighted the strategic importance of this preventive approach: “We chose this axis to analyze and collect information with the community ahead of the upcoming transhumance. This allows us to jointly prepare concrete actions to prevent violence, crop destruction, and cattle theft, which are the main causes of tension.”
By prioritizing consultation over confrontation, this MINUSCA intervention leaves a lasting impression by laying the foundation for ongoing dialogue between farmers and herders. Thanks to the firm commitment of local authorities and residents to keep this channel of communication open, Nana-Gribizi is equipping itself with solid tools to turn the 2026 transhumance season into an opportunity for harmonious coexistence.
