RELIGIOUS ACTORS AND PEACEBUILDING IN POST CONFLICT AFRICAN STATES

Abstract

The importance of peacebuilding effort in reducing hostilities between parties to conflict is rising in a world where security and identity are under increased assault. There is a growing corpus of research on peacebuilding, but there are diverse opinions on activities of religious actors’on peacebuilding in post conflict African States. Therefore, examining how religious actors contribute to peacebuilding is the main aim of the study. The study, which was based on the social capital theory, identified network, trust, and norm in the mobilization of resources. With a case study design, the study adopted purposive sampling of events in Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya using narrative analysis of literatures to reveal the precise roles played by religious actors. Findings showed that advocacy, dialogue, observation, transitional justice, mediation and education constitutes the major activities of religious actors in peacebuilding. Religious actors have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the aim of their actions was to advance harmony in society. Hence, the need for government across states in Africa to include religious actors in the pre and post conflict peacebuilding processes. Future research should therefore look at the impact assessment of peacebuilding programmes when analyzing the effects of various activities.