An Interfaith Council for Peace has just been established in Senegal. Bringing together representatives of Islam, the Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, and Traditional Religions, the Council’s mission is to anticipate, defuse conflicts and promote peace, social cohesion, reconciliation, and development in Senegal and in West Africa, as a whole.
Françoise Niamien – Vatican City.
The Conseil Inter-Religieux du Sénégal Pour la Paix, CIRSP, is a coalition of all of Senegal’s major religious communities committed to deepening inter-religious dialogue and collaboration. The recent official launch of its activities cemented a loose forum that usually met when there was need or a crisis.
“We have operated in an informal framework for one-off actions for some years. Now this Inter-Religious Council is a formal structure operating within an official framework, bringing together Muslims, Christian and leaders of Traditional Religions,” explains Denis Ndour, a Catholic and Co-ordinator of the newly founded Inter-Religious Council. He added, “The official inauguration of the CIRSP marks an important milestone in our collective efforts to promote peace, justice and harmonious societies in Senegal,” he declared.
What CIRSP intends to do
Describing CIRSP’s aims and objectives, Denis Ndour indicated that the organisation intends to invest in promoting and consolidating peace as well as social cohesion, encouraging a culture of peace in Senegal and West Africa.
In addition, CIRSP—the interreligious Council—intends to participate in national development by engaging in the education sector and environmental protection. According to the Co-ordinator, CIRPS has already set up market-gardening projects in Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The idea is to provide economic support for these countries’ troubled regions.
Actions that promote peace
The Conseil Inter-Religieux du Sénégal Pour la Paix, CIRSP
The Council further plans to create awareness programmes that prevent, promote, and consolidate peace in Senegal.
“We don’t want to be firemen who come in just to put out the fire. For us, it’s a question of anticipating conflicts by advocating non-violence,” said the Co-ordinator.
To achieve peace-building in the country, the Conseil Inter-Religieux du Sénégal Pour la Paix plans to organise several activities, including caravans and weeks of prayer for peace.
Regular meetings and mediation training sessions for religious leaders are also on the agenda. Stressing that peace-building in Senegal is everyone’s mission, Denis Ndour urged his compatriots to co-exist in love. “We are all made for love, and this love we must cultivate on a daily basis for peace in our country,” he emphasised.
CIRPS is supported in its mission by the African Council of Religious Leaders based in Nairobi, Kenya, to which it is affiliated.
