Interview with Regional Director of the Religions for Peace Conflict Transformation program in West Africa, Rev. William Tolbert III

Q: What is your role in West Africa?
A: I work as the regional director of the Religions for Peace Conflict Transformation program in West Africa. Our Regional Office is based in Liberia, but we work with the Interreligious Councils (IRCs) of five countries: Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone. Religions for Peace supports the IRCs of these nations and their conflict transformation programs.

Q: What are some ways that the IRCs of these nations are working for conflict transformation?
A: The Interreligious Council of Liberia (IRCL) has played a crucial role in the peace process there. It served as one of the principle mediators that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA). The IRCL is currently monitoring adherence to the CPA by all stakeholders, monitoring the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and rehabilitation (DDRR) process, and preparing for the upcoming elections on October 11. It is also involved in sensitizing and educating the public on gender mainstreaming, empowerment of youth, as well as tolerance and peaceful coexistence among religious faiths and ethnic groups, in light of the tensions among warring factions that have existed in Liberia.

In Sierra Leone, the IRC is sensitizing the public about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, which is now in circulation. It is also involved in community based reconciliation activities, as well as monitoring the Special Court of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with civil society organizations and international community partners, to ensure that those who have committed war crimes are prosecuted justly.

The Interreligious Council of Guinea (IRCG) has been taking a more proactive role in working to prevent the outbreak of violent conflict, given the latent conflict situation there. The IRCG is working with the government, other local stakeholders, and international partners, to promote calm and restraint as a response to situations of tension, rather than resorting to violence.

The National Forum of Religions of Cote d’Ivoire (NFR-CI) remains constructively engaged with local governments and local stakeholders to positively transform the Ivorian situation. They are also involved in community based reconciliation activities, civic education, and sensitizing the public in preparation for upcoming national elections.

The Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP) has not formalized a conflict transformation program at this juncture. Their activities are part of the Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI) benefiting children affected by HIV/AIDS. Religions for Peace is one of the founding partners of HACI, and Ghana currently chairs the country program council. There is an HIV/AIDS Coordinator with GCRP to oversee the council’s involvement in HACI initiatives.

There is acknowledgement that there are linkages (socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and political) that invariably affect all the countries of the region (positively or negatively). Hence, all the IRCs are collaborating at the regional level to address issues of peace, reconciliation, and security throughout West Africa. The West Africa Inter-Religious Coordinating Committee (WA IRCC) has been formed and there is regular capacity building of the religious leaders as well as rotational consultations in the five countries. These exercises have equipped the IRCs to make appropriate national or regional interventions to ensure peaceful and just societal transformation.

Q: Why is some of your work specifically focused around women and youth?
A: Many countries are patriarchal, and there needs to be a long-term process of transforming the mindset of leaders to value the full inclusion of women and children. This is particularly true given the fact that these two groups are actually the most adversely affected in conflict situations. We need to address the needs of women and youth through programs and activities that will help and heal them. We also need to facilitate mainstreaming of women and empowerment of youth in the conflict transformation process.

Q: Are there any programs that are specifically working with children in these areas?
A: In some of these countries, there are many children who have been orphaned as a result of war and conflict. Other children are from homes where one or more parents have HIV/AIDS. There are various organizations that are working to care for these children. One such program is the Advocacy and Action for Children (AAC) program, which is directed by Jim Cairns. The Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP) is involved in the Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI), which focuses on children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Q: What are some of the challenges that lie ahead?
A: We are faced with many challenges that people do not think of—challenges related to communication, transportation, and logistics. In many areas of West Africa, there is no regular electricity, or running water. We do not have regular flights between countries, and lack a well-developed road network. We have to use mobile phones, which results in higher costs for our programs. In the conflict and post-conflict situations in many of these countries, infrastructure has been destroyed and needs rehabilitation. While physical rehabilitation of infrastructure is necessary, the holistic rehabilitation of people affected by conflict is probably more important to maintain peace and stability. Though the international community has completed disarmament, there are still some armed combatants at-large, which affects security. There is a fear that unless economic development is sustained throughout West Africa to improve the quality of life of the people, there will be recurring conflict. These issues point to the need for international support of economic development through West Africa to eradicate illiteracy, poverty, and disease.

Q: How can we in the United States help partner with your work in West Africa?
A: First, there is a need to sensitize the American public to the value of interreligious cooperation, especially since September 11. Religious tension needs to be diminished, and broad generalizations about various religious groups need to be broken down. We need to learn about the people whom we live and work with, and learn how to live in peace and co-existence with them. Meaningful work in positive societal transformation can be done when people of different ethnic or religious backgrounds come together. The second thing that Americans can do is advocate for funding for the different programs of Religions for Peace. The programs that are being undertaken by the IRCs of West Africa need local and international support. So, there is a need to generate support for the work here.

Q: Do you have any closing thoughts about the value of interreligious work in the process of conflict transformation?
A: Religions have often been the source of division. We want to show that religions can also be a source of unity, reconciliation, and building peace and hope. Religions for Peace is working with multinational interreligious councils around the world. In Africa, we have the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL), and there are similar groups in Asia, Europe, and Central/South America. All of these groups are working to transform situations of conflict into situations that will promote peace, reconciliation, healing, justice, equity, and development.