Muslim World League launches plan to counter extremism and promote peace in West Africa

The Muslim World League has announced a comprehensive initiative aimed at curbing extremist ideologies and fostering interfaith harmony in West Africa. This effort was formally launched during an international conference in Abuja, Nigeria, attended by Muslim and Christian religious leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives. The event took place under the patronage of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was titled “Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future.” At the conference, participants adopted the Abuja Declaration, which outlines a collaborative strategy involving government bodies, religious figures, and community organizations to prevent conflicts and challenge extremist narratives. The initiative includes the expansion of educational programs, training sessions, and media outreach efforts tied to the Makkah Charter, a previously established framework for interreligious cooperation. To ensure effective implementation, a new Coordinating Body for Religious and Civil Leaders and Institutions in West Africa was created. This body will be responsible for overseeing the execution of the agreed-upon plans, managing related programs, and conducting regular reviews of progress made. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League, emphasized that the initiative seeks to tackle the underlying factors contributing to the spread of extremist ideas. He highlighted the importance of forging binding agreements among the participating entities to create a unified front against radicalization. During the conference, four memorandums of understanding were signed between Muslim and Christian groups. These include agreements between the Muslim World League and Nigeria’s Interfaith Mediation Centre, between Jamaat Izalat al-Bid'a wa Iqamat as-Sunna and the Council of Christian Religious Leaders in Northern Nigeria, between Jamaat Nasr al-Islam and the Christian Youth Initiative for Peace and Development, and between the Union of Ahl al-Sunna Organisations and the Alliance of Progressive Pastors. The launch of this initiative follows years of persistent security threats posed by extremist groups such as Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). These groups have been responsible for numerous attacks across the Sahel region, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people. In Nigeria alone, the country has faced ongoing challenges from Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), since 2009. The violence associated with these groups has often targeted both Muslim and Christian communities, exacerbating tensions and fueling divisions. President Tinubu expressed his full support for the declaration and its associated programs during a meeting with Sheikh Al-Issa at the presidential palace. Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the initiatives are regularly evaluated and adjusted as needed. The conference drew participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including Muslim and Christian leaders from across West Africa, representatives from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, U.S. evangelical leaders, and delegates from the Vatican and Protestant churches. During his time in Nigeria, Sheikh Al-Issa delivered the Friday sermon at the National Grand Mosque in Abuja before concluding his visit. He commended Nigeria’s religious diversity and national values, noting that the meetings and initiatives undertaken during his stay were aimed at reinforcing collaboration between religious leaders and institutions to enhance social cohesion within the country and the broader regional context. His remarks underscored the significance of maintaining peaceful relations among different faiths as a crucial step toward achieving long-term stability in the region.