African Christians, Muslims make landmark commitment to interreligious dialogue

Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Africa have issued a landmark document to "solemnly commit themselves to ensuring that dialogue conducive to all religions living together is established in a sustainable manner with respect for the law, religious dogmas and practices, as well as freedom of worship and conscience".

The new document, called the "Abidjan Declaration", was adopted on February 25 at the end of the first international symposium on interreligious dialogue, which was held in Côte d'Ivoire. 

The three-day gathering came at the initiative of the Superior Council of Imams, Mosques and Islamic Affairs in Côte d'Ivoire (COSIM) and the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema. 

The theme of the February 23-25 symposium was "The Eternal Message of Religions".

In a West African region increasingly affected by violent extremism, there have been more and such symposiums in recent years to combat this scourge.

Governments, civil society and international organizations have organized workshops, training seminars and awareness campaigns on this problematic issue that can jeopardize interreligious dialogue and social peace. 

This happened in Togo in 2019 and in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal in 2020.  

Staying united and supportive

The religious leaders that gathered last week in Abidjan "consider that solidarity, fraternity and dialogue between all religions must be the very basis of social peace". 

The international symposium, which brought together hundreds of Christian and Muslim participants, was aimed at ensuring the "continued existence of the eternal message of peace towards Ivorian and African society and humanity". 

In this perspective, the religious leaders who signed the Abidjan Declaration "call on all the living forces of African countries to remain united and supportive in the face of all the dangers of division, not to give in to the threats and amalgams knowingly propagated to undermine unity". 

Protection of environmental biodiversity

They also advocate "unfailing cooperation among religions" to address the multiple crises shaking the continent, "especially health, food, environmental, economic and social".

The Muslim and Christian clerics "urge for ethics and responsibility in mobilizing and facing up to harmful climate changes; for everyone to play their role in protecting the biodiversity of the environment in Côte d'Ivoire and in all African countries; for working together to make significant sacrifices for the good of future generations".