Maroua Report: Religious Leaders for Peace and Development
Religious Leaders for Peace and Development
Held in Maroua, Cameroon, from 6 to 10 January 2013, the conference created a regional platform for religious leaders from 12 countries to share concerns, learn from one another and plan joint action amid conflict and instability.
The gathering enabled Christian and Muslim leaders to sit together, listen, learn, pray within their respective traditions and pursue a common cause of peace and development.
Areas Covered in the Report
- Christian-Muslim relations across Francophone West and Central Africa
- The role of religion in peace and sustainable development
- Regional insecurity, violent extremism and cross-border risks
- Country experiences, lessons learned and prospective action
- Women’s participation in religious leadership and peacebuilding
- The Maroua Communiqué and a religious leaders’ call for peace in the Central African Republic
Selected Conference Highlights
Twelve Countries
Participants came from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo.
Regional Risk
The conference examined insecurity linked to conflict in Mali and neighbouring countries, instability in Central Africa and anxiety created by Boko Haram’s activities in Nigeria.
Country Action
Country groups identified lessons, local priorities and prospective actions for strengthening Christian-Muslim cooperation, peace and development after the conference.
Regional Commitments
- Religious leaders committed to building trust and addressing conflict before it escalates into violence.
- Participants considered how faith communities could support governments and societies in peaceful conflict resolution.
- The conference produced a dedicated women’s statement on participation and peacebuilding.
- Religious leaders issued a call for peace in the Central African Republic.
- The Maroua Communiqué set out shared priorities for continued regional cooperation.
Publication Details
- Title: Maroua Report
- Conference: Francophone West and Central Africa Regional Conference for Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders on Peace and Development
- Location: Maroua, Cameroon
- Date: 6–10 January 2013
- Edited by: Johnson A. Mbillah
- Publisher: Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa
- Length: 112 pages
- Category: Publications
Download the Conference Report
Read the proceedings, country presentations, lecture notes, Maroua Communiqué, women’s statement, call for peace in the Central African Republic and conference photographs.