Nigeria religious leaders sign interfaith peace agreement

More than 50 Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria signed a peace agreement in Abuja on August 13 to promote religious coexistence and combat hate speech and extremism. The accord was reached during an international conference organized by the Saudi-based Muslim World League.

The initiative aims to reduce religious tensions and inflammatory rhetoric ahead of the 2027 presidential election. As part of the agreement, a new interfaith body will be established to foster cooperation between the two communities. Leaders emphasized that the pact is intended to encourage harmony without requiring individuals to compromise their specific religious identities.

The agreement follows years of violence involving groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which have impacted both Christian and Muslim populations. Nigerian government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, expressed support for the initiative to maintain national unity.