Religious leaders from across West Africa have agreed to a joint strategy to counter extremist narratives and promote social peace, following a conference in Abuja convened by the Muslim World League. The initiative, unveiled under the patronage of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brought together Muslim and Christian clerics, government officials, and civil society representatives from the region.
The gathering, titled "Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future," concluded with the adoption of the Abuja Declaration, a consensus document outlining a shared action plan for government institutions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations. The declaration focuses on conflict prevention and countering extremist discourse, and it expands educational, training, and media programs linked to the Makkah Charter, a framework for religious cooperation.
A new coordinating body for interfaith action
A key outcome of the conference was the establishment of a Coordinating Body for Religious and Civil Leaders and Institutions in West Africa. This new body will oversee the implementation of the declaration, coordinate programs, and conduct regular progress assessments. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and President of the Council of Muslim Scholars, said the initiative was designed to address the root causes of extremist ideas through binding agreements between the parties.
Four memorandums of understanding were signed at a follow-up meeting between Muslim and Christian leaders. These agreements link the Muslim World League with Nigeria's Interfaith Mediation Centre; Jamaat Izalat al-Bid'a wa Iqamat as-Sunna with the Council of Christian Religious Leaders in Northern Nigeria; Jamaat Nasr al-Islam with the Christian Youth Initiative for Peace and Development; and the Union of Ahl al-Sunna Organisations with the Alliance of Progressive Pastors. The coordinating body will monitor the implementation of all four agreements.
The initiative comes as West Africa continues to grapple with significant security challenges from extremist groups, including Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). These groups have killed thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel over the past decade. Nigeria itself has been battling Boko Haram and its offshoot, the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), since 2009. The violence has repeatedly sought to sow discord between Muslim and Christian communities.
President Tinubu met Sheikh Al-Issa at the presidential palace on the sidelines of the conference and confirmed his full backing for the declaration and its implementing programs, including a commitment to periodic evaluations. Participants included Muslim and Christian leaders from across West Africa, as well as representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, US evangelical leaders, and delegates from the Vatican and Protestant churches.
Sheikh Al-Issa also delivered the Friday sermon at the National Grand Mosque in Abuja before departing. The initiative reflects a broader effort by the Muslim World League to foster interfaith dialogue and counter extremism, a mission that resonates beyond Africa and into European discussions on religious coexistence and security.
For European observers, the Abuja conference underscores the importance of interfaith cooperation in addressing global security threats. The European Union has long supported similar initiatives in the Sahel, and the new coordinating body could serve as a model for regional collaboration. As Germany grants its spy agencies new powers to counter hybrid threats, the role of religious leaders in preventing radicalization remains a key component of broader security strategies.
The success of the Abuja Declaration will depend on sustained commitment from all parties. The coordinating body's mandate to conduct regular assessments is a positive step, but the real test lies in translating agreements into tangible improvements on the ground. For the millions affected by extremism in West Africa, the initiative offers a glimmer of hope that religious leaders can unite to build peace.
