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Organised by a local interfaith youth group, the event saw
Muslims and Christians sharing food and prayers in a symbolic
act against militant forces seeking to exploit ethnic and
religious divisions, participants said.
"If two groups from different religions manage to live together,
many evils in the society will be totally over," said Wenkouni
Damien Ouedraogo, a Catholic and one of the event's chief
organizers.
"We must go beyond our religions to be able to embrace the other
as really a part of oneself," he added.
Burkina Faso is one of several West African countries battling
an Islamist insurgency that took root in neighbouring Mali and
has spread across the region in the past decade.
Thousands have been killed and over two million displaced across
the Sahel region south of the Sahara, where militant groups
linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have exploited ethnic and
religious divides to fuel violence.
Around 64% of Burkinabes adhere to Islam, while around 24%
identify as Christians, according to a 2019 government census.
"To those who unfortunately took up arms against the country, we
hope that our message of hope can soften their hearts," said
Mamadi Ouedraogo, one of the event's Muslim organizers.
"This is for our well-being, our development and for peace and
security in our country."
(Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by
Giles Elgood)
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