UPF Burkina Faso Commemorates World Environment Day 2025: Promoting Peace and Sustainability

Written by UPF-Africa

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – On July 20, 2025, the Universal Peace Federation (FPU) – Burkina Faso held a formal ceremony in Ouagadougou to commemorate World Environment Day 2025. This event aligned with national efforts to promote peace, social cohesion, and environmental preservation in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Approximately 800 participants attended the ceremony, including religious and traditional leaders, representatives of defense and security forces such as the national gendarmerie and police, political figures led by the High Commissioner of Kadiogo Province who presided over the ceremony, and civil society representatives like Mr. Simpore, CEO of CAVE SIMPORE SARL (first sponsor), and Cheick Souleymane Sawadogo, spiritual guide (second sponsor). Key interventions included a welcome address by Mr. Drissa Ouattara, Chairman; an opening speech by the High Commissioner of Kadiogo Province; a presentation of the FPU by Mr. Thomas Diarra, Secretary General; and an overview of the five principles of Peace Ambassadors by Mr. Arouna Barre, Deputy Secretary General. Several religious leaders, traditional chiefs, defense and security officials, and economic operators were honored as Ambassadors for Peace.

The ceremony aimed to support the United Nations’ efforts in achieving the SDGs, promote peace by engaging religious, traditional, and political leaders, strengthen family values as a foundation for social cohesion, and raise awareness about environmental preservation through concrete actions by Peace Ambassadors. Activities included recognizing religious leaders, traditional chiefs, defense and security officials, and economic operators as Ambassadors for Peace, presenting moringa, baobab, and kapok plants to each honoree to symbolize their commitment to environmental preservation, and launching a friendly competition to encourage the maintenance of these plants until the next edition.

Given the event’s positive impact, it is recommended to support and promote UPF’s efforts in fostering peace and environmental stewardship and to consider integrating such initiatives into national sustainable development programs. The celebration was a success, marked by strong participation and commitments to peace and environmental preservation, reflecting a collective resolve to build a united, peaceful, and environmentally conscious Burkina Faso.