A new Kigali-based initiative seeks to strengthen the role of religious leaders and faith communities in preventing conflicts, promoting reconciliation and advancing peace across Africa. The Pan African Faith Leaders Initiative (PAFLI) was officially launched in Kigali on Thursday, October 22, with an aim to mobilise religious leaders and faith-based institutions to contribute to conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation, peaceful coexistence and the protection of human dignity. ALSO READ: PM Nsengiyumva: Peace in Africa needs govt, faith leaders working together Its establishment comes amid growing recognition that sustainable peace requires more than political and security actors, with religious leaders seen as influential actors because of their moral authority, community networks and ability to engage across social and political divides. The initiative also seeks to draw lessons from Rwanda’s history, particularly the role played by religious institutions and some faith leaders before and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Speaking at the launch, Bishop Alfred Gatabazi, President of the Association of Evangelical Churches in Rwanda, said religious leaders must take responsibility for addressing injustice and preventing mass atrocities. He noted that although some members of the clergy risked their lives to protect victims during the Genocide, others failed to act, while some took part in the killings. “Given the nature of Genocide, the clergy cannot remain silent. They must speak out,” Gatabazi said. He said religious institutions have significant potential to contribute to peace because of their social reach and presence within communities, but their influence must be translated into practical action. “We recognise that African religious diversity is not an obstacle to our common future. Properly nurtured, it can become a source of solidarity, dialogue and collective action,” he said. Gatabazi added that PAFLI seeks to strengthen the capacity of religious leaders and faith-based organisations, facilitate interfaith dialogue and build partnerships with governments, civil society, academia and international organisations. ALSO READ: Civil society, faith-based organisations and govt join hands for peace Profais Musoni, chairman of the Pan-African Movement-Rwanda Chapter, said faith should contribute to transformation of African societies, alongside political and economic reforms. He argued that religious institutions have an opportunity to become instruments of reconciliation, development and empowerment, despite their historical involvement in systems that contributed to division. “Faith-based leaders must not only preach reconciliation but also practise it. They must not only pray for unity but actively confront the ideologies that divide our communities,” Musoni said. He called for stronger cooperation between religious institutions and Pan-African organisations, saying faith leaders should encourage African unity, dignity, solidarity and self-reliance. Dr Alex Mvuka, a researcher in political affairs, governance and peacebuilding in the Great Lakes region, examined why religious leaders have often failed to prevent mass atrocities, drawing comparisons between Rwanda and DR Congo. He said religious affiliation alone does not guarantee peaceful societies, particularly where political interests and ethnic loyalties influence the actions of religious leaders. Mvuka noted that some religious institutions have aligned themselves with political authorities, while others have opposed governments or acted as mediators in political conflicts. He also highlighted institutional divisions among churches, saying a lack of consensus can weaken collective responses to violence. His recommendations included building networks between religious leaders and civil society, strengthening teachings on peace, supporting faith leaders financially and developing forms of religious diplomacy that allow religious institutions to work with governments while retaining their peacebuilding role. Dr Emmanuel Musinga, secretary-general of PAFLI, said the initiative was intended to encourage religious leaders to speak out against injustice and take a more active role in their communities. He argued that engaging in peacebuilding and working with political leaders should not be seen as incompatible with religious responsibilities. “We are here to support our communities and leaders, establish lasting peace, promote education, fight poverty and support our people’s aspirations,” he said. Musinga, who spoke about his experience of displacement, called for a continent where people are not discriminated against because of their ethnic identity, language or physical appearance. He cited Rwanda as an example of a country working towards reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, while urging African religious leaders to support efforts to address violence and displacement elsewhere on the continent. According to the organisers, PAFLI will begin a programme of engagement aimed at strengthening the capacity of faith leaders and institutions to contribute to peacebuilding across Africa and beyond. The launch brought together representatives of government, diplomatic missions, religious institutions, international organisations, development partners, academia and civil society.
