The Ivorian government, institutional partners, and religious communities showed great interest in this important event, which contributes significantly to political stability in the subregion. The opening speech was delivered by Mrs. Myss Belmonde DOGO, Minister for National Cohesion, Solidarity, and the Fight Against Poverty. The theme of the colloquium was "Religion and Politics in Times of Conflict." In her speech, she urged religious leaders to continue their mediation efforts in places of worship to reach the wider population. According to the General Population and Housing Census report, more than 80% of Ivorians regularly visit religious institutions.
Earlier, Kevin ANVO, Program Officer of the KAS, emphasized in his speech the need to analyze the interplay between religion and politics. He encouraged the participants to explore ways to avoid conflicts and, instead, build bridges in order to foster a culture of reconciliation and ensure lasting social peace.
As a co-organizer, the Israeli Ambassador, Mrs. Rony Yédidia CLEIN, also delivered a speech. She highlighted the importance of cooperation between religion and politics in creating sustainable peace. She stated: "As the Ambassador of Israel, I have witnessed firsthand how honest and engaged dialogue between believers and political actors can pave the way for harmonious coexistence. Our experience shows that religion can be an extremely powerful tool for reconciliation when it is used not to divide, but to unite."
Dr. FLAN Moquet César, Director of the CRPA (Center for Political Research in Abidjan), also addressed the central issue of the relationship between religion and politics. He outlined the structure of the day’s discussions, saying: "To address this question, we will first look at the theological foundations and examine how different religions define their relationship with politics (Panel 1). Next, we will analyze the role and responsibility of religious leaders in the electoral process, which is already shaped by political competition and conflicts (Panel 2). Finally, we want to exchange experiences and best practices to promote interfaith dialogue and strengthen the role of religious leaders as a pillar of social cohesion and lasting peace (Panel 3)."
After the first panel discussion on the theological foundations of the relationship between "Religion and Politics," the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Sidiki KONATE, took the opportunity to make an appeal to the religious leaders and all other participants. He called for the creation of a peaceful social climate during the election year in Côte d'Ivoire. He emphasized the importance of listening to the concerns of religious leaders and taking responsibility in the peace process.
In addition to these significant contributions, there were enriching discussions between the panelists and participants from the aforementioned countries. In the group work on various topics, concrete results were achieved. These include valuable suggestions that will be recorded in the conference proceedings and a policy paper. The policy paper will serve as a valuable tool for advocacy and decision-making in the process of peacebuilding and social cohesion.
About this series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.