Religion key to West Africa's security, ethical leadership
Military chaplains and religious leaders from ten West African nations met in Ghana for the inaugural West Africa Religious Affairs Symposium. The event focused on leveraging religious influence to promote ethical leadership, regional security, and military welfare.
Why it matters
Integrating religious leadership into military strategy is being explored as a method to foster stability and resilience in a region facing complex security challenges.
Military chaplains and religious affairs leaders from across West Africa have underscored the critical role of religion in strengthening regional security, promoting ethical leadership, and improving the welfare of military personnel during the inaugural West Africa Religious Affairs Symposium (WARAS) in Accra, Ghana.
The three-day symposium, jointly organised by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Ghana Armed Forces, brought together military chaplains, religious affairs personnel, and representatives from ten West African countries, alongside participants from the U.S. State Partnership Program, to explore how faith-based leadership can contribute to military readiness, regional cooperation, and peacebuilding.
Speaking during a digital press briefing, AFRICOM Command Chaplain, Colonel Kevin Forrester, described religion as a strategic element that cannot be overlooked in addressing West Africa’s evolving security challenges.
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