Peace, stability and development

In the energetic course of your mandate as President of the OAU, which ended in July 1999, you were ceaselessly involved in the prevention or resolution of African conflicts. It was in Ouagadougou that the main political actors of Liberia launched their peace process in July 2002. It was also in Ouagadougou that the peace accord of December 2003 was signed between the government of Chad and the rebels of the Movement for Democracy and Justice. We could also mention other mediations, in the crisis in Madagascar, the Central African Republic and Togo. So here is my question: do you have a method as a mediator, a special procedure for the prevention or resolution of conflicts? Blase Compaoré: - To emerge from a crisis, the parties in conflict must have a firm desire to find a mutually agreed solution to their disagreements. That was the case for Côte d'Ivoire, where each party reached the conclusion that war was not the best option. The government and the former revels made a mutual decision to engage in a direct dialogue with each other. In Togo, the same political will was seen. Once this condition has been fulfilled, a facilitator is needed who is trusted by both parties. This facilitator must maintain a position of neutrality, be capable of taking a middle position with respect to the extreme positions taken at the outset by the parties involved. He must facilitate concessions on both sides, in such a way that no one has the feeling of being the loser. I reiterate my congratulations to the opposing parties in Côte d'Ivoire and in Togo, because they have been able to transcend their differences to consult only the greater interest of their respective countries.