Would you please describe your current work in Abuja?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: To strengthen its peacebuilding work in Africa, WCC leadership decided to relocate the regional programme office from Geneva, Switzerland to Abuja, Nigeria. The relocation of the office took place in the first quarter of the year 2024. Since then, the WCC Regional Office in Abuja has been committed to providing the necessary mobilization and creating awareness on recent development among the member churches; it provides ecumenical accompaniment and support to member churches advocating for a nonviolent approach, promotion of social justice, and the transformation of structures that generate violent conflicts in the region. 

The Africa regional programme office in Abuja, among other things, coordinates WCC peace-building in Africa with the goal of supporting and accompanying member churches and church-related institutions. The office also strengthens ecumenical collaboration with regional and sub-regional ecumenical organizations, ecumenical partners, specialised ministries, and other relevant stakeholders in the promotion of justice, reconciliation, peace and Unity in Africa. The Abuja programme office has been supporting and strengthening the capacity of member churches to be voices for peace and stability in the region and to provide supports to other WCC programmes within the region. 

As the program executive for peacebuilding and the coordinator for the African office, I have visited some member churches in Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Ghana. I have also visited subregional ecumenical organizations and national councils in the region advocating for collaboration and solidarity with communities that have been suffering violent conflict in the continent. I am happy to inform you that the reception has been so amazing and well appreciated by the member churches and other stakeholders in the region. 

What are your priorities and what is your focus as we approach 2025?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: As we approach 2025, the WCC Africa Regional programme Office is prioritising deepening engagement in peace-building work across Africa, focusing on supporting member churches in addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering justice, reconciliation, and unity through ecumenical collaboration and inter-religious dialogue. 

The office will work closely with the member churches, national councils, and subregional and regional ecumenical bodies to promote justice, peace, and human dignity, especially in areas affected by protracted violent conflict such as South Sudan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Also, the office will serve as a convener and facilitating intra-faith and interfaith dialogue among religious leaders to mediate conflicts and promote healing in divided communities and to support grassroots peace initiatives, advocating for the inclusion of women and youth in peace-building processes, recognizing their critical role in sustaining long-term peace. 

Additionally, the office will deepen its advocacy for justice and human rights, expanding the role of women and youth in peace processes, and investing in capacity-building and leadership development programs and climate-related conflict. 

What are the highlights so far in the peace-building work in the Africa region?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: The World Council of Churches has continued to be actively involved in peace-building efforts across Africa, addressing the root causes of conflicts and fostering reconciliation through its extensive network of member churches with a focus on the conflict-affected nations of South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Cameroon. 

In South Sudan, the WCC as a member of the Ecumenical Network for South Sudan has continued accompany the South Sudan Council of Churches and churches in their work for justice, reconciliation, and unity in the context of communal and ethnic conflict. Their work also involves engaging women and youth in supporting peace and reconciliation processes. Through the South Sudan Council of Churches, an ecumenical platform, the WCC is supporting the implementation of the Action Plan for Peace, which includes psycho-social support (trauma healing sessions) with violent conflict survivors, advocacy for justice, and the pursuit of peace at both national and grassroots levels. 

In September 2024, the WCC, together with the Ecumenical Network on South Sudan Africa Hub, embarked on an ecumenical solidarity visit to Juba in the face of political transitional uncertainty and to support the South Sudan Council of Churches and churches in the ongoing ecumenical transition in the council. The visit reinforced the commitment of WCC to support and accompany the South Sudan Council of Churches and the churches in the current challenges and provide pastoral accompaniment

In Sudan, the WCC’s peace-building efforts have focused on supporting the churches’ engagement in the country’s political transitions. Since 2023, the WCC has collaborated with the regional and subregional ecumenical organizations and Sudanese churches to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and other regions of the country. The WCC’s work in Sudan also involves strengthening interfaith relations and supporting human rights advocacy, particularly through the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, a WCC-led initiative aimed at fostering peace and promoting justice through church cooperation. 

In April 2024, the WCC organized an ecumenical solidarity visit to Port Sudan led by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay to provide pastoral support and accompaniment, to enhance ecumenical solidarity, and pray for the churches and people of Sudan who are devastated by the ongoing war. The visit had in participation the regional and subregional ecumenical organizations, ACT Alliance, General Board of Global Ministries, and other ecumenical partners and specialised ministries. 

In Ethiopia, the WCC has been involved in addressing the tensions that have risen from the conflict in the Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and other regions of the country. The WCC African region has continued to facilitate and support the joint initiatives of the three main churches—the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Lutheran Church, and Ethiopian Catholic Church on their joint initiatives including the proposed Ethiopian Christian Council formation. The WCC seeks to encourage dialogue, reconciliation, and humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.

In Nigeria and Cameroon, the WCC’s focus has been on mitigating the impact of insurgencies, kidnapping, and ethnic conflicts, particularly in areas affected by Boko Haram and other extremist groups and the environmental pollution in the Ogoni region. The WCC works closely with the churches in these regions to advocate for peace, protect human rights, and provide support to displaced populations. In Nigeria, through the regional office in Abuja, we are strengthening support to the WCC-supported interfaith centre in Kaduna with strong collaboration with other interfaith initiatives in Nigeria to promote interfaith relations for peace, bringing together Christian and Muslim leaders to foster cooperation and address the root causes of religious and ethnic tensions. 

Similarly, in Cameroon, the WCC has backed peace initiatives in the Anglophone regions, encouraging dialogue between separatists and the government while emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and reconciliation efforts. Through these diverse efforts, the WCC contributes to sustainable peace and justice in some of Africa’s most conflict-prone regions.

What is the role of inter-religious dialogue in achieving mutual understanding and peace in the conflict areas in Africa? 

Rev. Dr Yusuf: Inter-religious dialogue plays a vital role in fostering mutual understanding and peace in conflict affected areas across Africa where religious differences often intersect with political, ethnic, and social tensions. By bringing together leaders and communities from diverse religious backgrounds. Inter-religious dialogue creates a platform for shared values such as peace, justice, and human dignity to emerge as common goals. In regions where religion has been manipulated to fuel conflict, dialogue between faith groups helps to break down misconceptions and stereotypes, encouraging respect for diversity. This approach has proven vital in countries like Nigeria and the Central African Republic, where religious and ethnic divides have often driven violence. Through dialogue, faith communities can become partners in peace-building rather than adversaries.

In conflict areas, inter-religious dialogue also facilitates trust-building and reconciliation, which are essential for long-term peace. Religious leaders often hold significant influence over their communities, and their involvement in peace processes can lead to more sustainable outcomes. By engaging in honest conversations about grievances and aspirations, religious leaders from different traditions help mediate conflicts and foster forgiveness. This was evident in South Sudan, where Christian and Muslim leaders, through ecumenical and interfaith platforms, played a vital role in advocating for peace and reconciliation among warring parties. 

Moreover, inter-religious dialogue strengthens community resilience by encouraging collaboration on social issues that transcend religious divisions, such as poverty, education, and healthcare. When religious groups work together to address these common concerns, they create a foundation for peace that is rooted in mutual benefit and collective progress. In conflict areas such as Nigeria, interfaith cooperation has led to joint peace initiatives as seen in the case of the WCC supported interfaith centre in Kaduna, humanitarian efforts, and advocacy for justice, given the fact that dialogue not only reduces tensions but also contributes to rebuilding fractured societies. Thus, inter-religious dialogue is a powerful tool in transforming conflict into an opportunity for collaboration, understanding, and enduring peace.