Churches and Mosques Together for Peace in Togo

Andrew Ashdown reflects on the importance of the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) this Interfaith Week.

“My prejudices about Christians have been shattered. Thank you for bringing us together and transforming our relationships with one another.” So spoke a senior Imam at the end of a gathering of Christian and Muslim lay and ordained leaders, brought together for dialogue and peacebuilding by our Partner Organisation, PROCMURA (the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa), in a town in northern Togo a few months ago where intercommunal violence has recently taken place.

Togo is a primarily Christian country. But like its’ neighbours, the far north of the country is predominantly Muslim. Relations between Christians and Muslims in the coastal regions of West Africa have for centuries been characterised by mutual tolerance and peaceful coexistence, but increasing levels of extremist violence across the Sahel region, stretching from Gambia to Nigeria, Central Africa and Ethiopia, have been spreading further south. Since 2021, villages in northern Togo have been subject to a number of attacks by extremist groups killing citizens, destroying property and crops, causing displacement and instilling growing fear and distrust between communities.

In June, PROCMURA convened members of the local Christian and Muslim communities in the town of Dapaong in the far north of Togo near the border with Burkina Faso. The meeting provided a way to share in a programme of dialogue, consultation and training on how to understand each other’s faith and promote continued tolerance, respect, coexistence and peace between local faith communities.

During the meeting, as participants shared their experiences and stories, the realisation that everyone shares common anxieties and fears about current realities and challenges and also similar aspirations for the future, affirmed the importance of such dialogue and mutual understanding. Reflecting on the Beatitudes, the participants, Christian and Muslim alike, agreed that “we all wish for blessings; we all wish for mercy; we all wish for peace.” Whilst recognizing, understanding and respecting differences, we were reminded of the worth of valuing and building upon all that that binds us together in daily life. When we do that, we realise that our commonalities are far more abundant than our differences.

The meeting concluded with a march through the streets of Dapong, chanting "Christians and Muslims together for peace." People by the market stalls smiled, waved and gave thumbs up signs. Some even joined the march. We included a time of prayer in a market outside the central mosque.

Last month, the Vatican marked the 60th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate. This Declaration, promulgated by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965, during the Second Vatican Council - became one of the most important documents in Church History affirming the relationship of Christianity with non-Christian religions. It emphasizes the importance of interfaith dialogue and respect between all faiths.

The Methodist Church in Britain is proud to be associated with the work of PROCMURA which runs educational, dialogue, training and peacebuilding programmes with religious and community leaders and with young people, across Africa and particularly in places impacted by communal violence.

The Partnership Coordinator for Africa, Andrew Ashdown, is Chair of Procmura’s European Partners, and represented Procmura at the 60th Anniversary celebrations at the Vatican. Meanwhile, we are working with Procmura to develop further collaboration with key interreligious organisations across Africa and with the Vatican to further strengthen the work of dialogue and peacebuilding in the region.