Religion and Peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This chapter critically examines the contribution of religion to peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa. An overview of the complex and evolving religious landscape of Africa today, where Christianity and Islam coexist alongside African traditional religions, is followed by an exploration of the intersection of secular and faith-based processes of peacebuilding in what remains a profoundly religious continent. Thirdly, this chapter probes the different ways religion has been appropriated or justified in the service of terror, notably in the case of the Central African Republic. Lastly, the chapter considers how religion-based efforts to mitigate conflict in Africa can be made more effective, especially Muslim-based initiatives, given the disproportionate impact on Africa’s Muslims.