New York: The Religions for Peace African Council of Religious Leaders was requested by the African Union (AU) to coordinate a newly formed Permanent Steering Committee of the AU designed to advance cooperation between the AU and religious communities on the continent.

The formation of the Steering Committee was a key outcome of the First African Union-Interfaith Dialogue Forum held on 17 June 2010 in Abuja, Nigeria, around the theme, 'Advancing Justice, Peace, Security and Development; Harnessing the Power of Religious Communities in Africa," The forum brought together nearly a hundred participants including senior African religious leaders and representatives of the AU.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan, opened the forum and called on religious and political leaders to work in partnership to take Africa forward, He called upon religious leaders to help solve the crises in places such as in Darfur and Somalia. The Permanent Steering Committee will facilitate partnerships between the AU and religious communities. The Religions for Peace African Council of Religions Leaders will coordinate the work of the Permanent Steering Committee at the AU.

His Eminence Al Hajj Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and a leader of the Religions for Peace African Council of Religious Leaders, and Archbishop Dr, John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja and a Co-President of the Religions for Peace World Council, challenged religious leaders to work together. They noted that the Religions for Peace African Council of Religious Leaders was jointly led by the heads of African religious communities, and that it was designed to advance principled collaboration on issues of shared moral concern such as ending violent conflict and addressing extreme poverty.

His Holiness Abune Pauios-Patriarch of Ethiopia, President of the World Council of Churches and an Honorary President of Religions for Peace-challenged religious communities in the continent to use the messages of their holy scriptures to build a peaceful and prosperous Africa.

Dr. Mustafa Y All, Secretary General of the Religions for Peace African Council of Religious Leaders, noted that Africa was building a positive legacy of concrete cases of religious leaders and communities cooperating together to effect change in countries across Africa. Citing the unique moral authority of religious leaders and the exceptional presence of religious communities across Africa, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, said that the partnership being developed between the AU and religious communities offers the continent and new and powerful way to address African challenges.

Participants at the forum also examined the peace and security situations In several African countries (including Somalia, Sudan, and Nigeria) as well as international viewpoints on multi-religious cooperation for peace and development.

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