Religions for Peace

 Food distribution in West Africa

In West Africa, senior religious leaders have been working cooperatively at the national and regional level to prevent conflicts from developing, to mediate peace negotiations among warring parties, and to rebuild peaceful societies in the aftermath of violence.  These multi-religious collaborations have led to the formation of inter-religious councils – independent, self-led bodies – that continue to engage in peacebuilding activities within their societies.  

Recognizing the need to act effectively to promote peace and development across borders, the inter-religious council (IRC) leaders formed a sub-regional mechanism to coordinate their actions and share critical information. The West Africa Inter-religious Coordinating Council (WA IRCC), formed in 2003, convenes regularly to participate in training sessions, formulate plans, and implement concrete action and advocacy initiatives. 

Religions for Peace has supported multi-religious collaboration in West Africa since 1996 when it worked in partnership with the IRC of Sierra Leone on negotiations that led to the signing of the Lome Peace Accord.  Since 2001, Religions for Peace has facilitated regional-level consultations and training exercises and provided national level capacity building and organizational development.  Since its formation, the IRC SL made significant contributions to the peace process by negotiating the release of more than 50 hostages, some of whom were child soldiers.

In 1999, Religions for Peace linked with an established interfaith council in Liberia, creating the IRC L. As one of the significant actors, the Council brokered the August 2003 Comprehensive Peace Accord in Accra, Ghana, thus positively transforming the crisis in Liberia.

In 2001 Guinea requested the assistance of Religions for Peace to formalize the IRC G. Since its establishment, they have remained constructively engaged in collaboration with other local actors in conflict prevention and sustainable peace building initiatives.

In response to the ongoing crises in Cote d’Ivoire, religious leaders requested Religions for Peace to assist in strengthening their multireligious body, the NFR-CI, to advocate for positive change and implement plans formulated for a peaceful solution to the present situation.

Integrating women and youth into the decision-making process at all levels is a concurrent initiative throughout the region. Recently, the Women's Desk of the IRC of Liberia was awarded the inaugural Greeley Prize in recognition of their groundbreaking efforts in making women part of the peacebuilding process in war-torn West Africa.