2 weeks ago
Nigeria's Muslim and Christian leaders sign interfaith peace accord
In Nigeria, more than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders met in the capital city, Abuja, and signed a peace accord.
The accord also launches a new body to promote religious harmony across the country.
The meeting was organized by the Muslim World League, a group based in Saudi Arabia.
The leaders said they want to stop hate speech and disrespect between religious groups.
A Christian leader, John Praise Daniel, said he hoped it would stop bad words between faiths.
A Muslim leader, Khalid Abubakar, said the accord is about working together in harmony, not leaving your own religion.
The meeting happened months after U.S. President Donald Trump said negative things about Nigeria and talked about Christians being hurt.
In Nigeria, many people are Muslim in the north and Christian in the south.
For more than 15 years, groups like Boko Haram have caused violence, mostly in the northeast, and many people have been killed.
The government said it wants Nigeria to stay united, and the accord comes before the country's next election in January 2027.
More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders signed an interfaith peace accord in Abuja to promote religious harmony across Nigeria.
The accord was signed at a two-day conference organized by the Muslim World League, an Islamic NGO based in Saudi Arabia.
The signing came months after U.S. President Donald Trump called Nigeria a 'disgraced country' and threatened military action over the treatment of Christians.
Islamist insurgents Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands of people over more than 15 years, with attacks largely confined to the northeast.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin represented President Bola Tinubu at the signing, which comes ahead of the January 2027 election.
- Who
- More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders, joined by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin representing President Bola Tinubu and three northern state governors.
- What
- Signed an interfaith peace accord and launched a new body to promote religious harmony across Nigeria.
- Where
- Abuja, Nigeria
- When
- In August 2026, at a two-day conference in Abuja.
- Why
- To curb divisive religious rhetoric and promote cooperation between faiths after more than 15 years of insurgent violence, ahead of the January 2027 election.
External criticism of Nigeria's religious situation
Nigerian government and faith leaders' response
Nature of religious violence
External criticism of Nigeria's religious situation
U.S. President Donald Trump called Nigeria a 'disgraced country' and threatened military action over what he said was the treatment of Christians by 'Islamic Terrorists'.
Nigerian government and faith leaders' response
Analysts and rights groups say that while Christians have been killed, the vast majority of victims have been Muslims, with attacks largely confined to the majority Muslim northeast.
Presidential ticket religious balance
External criticism of Nigeria's religious situation
Nigeria has a long-standing practice of balancing presidential tickets between the country's two main faiths.
Nigerian government and faith leaders' response
President Tinubu's ruling All Progressives Congress is running on a two-Muslim presidential ticket for the January 2027 election, breaking with that practice.
Key facts
- Signatories
- More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders
- Location
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Organizer
- Muslim World League, a Saudi Arabia-based Islamic NGO; Secretary-General Mohammad Al-Issa welcomed enthusiasm to 'turn a new page'
- Government attendance
- Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin represented President Bola Tinubu; three northern state governors were also present
- Security context
- Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands over more than 15 years, mostly in the northeast
- Victims
- Analysts and rights groups say the vast majority of insurgency victims have been Muslims
- Next election
- January 2027, when religion will again be a factor in Nigerian politics
- Trump remarks
- Last November, called Nigeria a 'disgraced country' and threatened military action over what he said was the treatment of Christians by 'Islamic Terrorists'
Quotes
John Praise Daniel
Chairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders’ Assembly
“"The government is determined to make sure that we remain united as a country, despite our differences, whatever the differences may be."”
theprint.in
“"No hate speech, and no disrespect for other religious groups, no calling of people as infidels."”
theprint.in
Mohammad Al‑Issa
Secretary‑General of the Muslim World League, an Islamic NGO based in Saudi Arabia
“There was enthusiasm among the two faiths to "turn a new page"”
theprint.in
Sources
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