Faith in Africa

The on-going popular uprising in North Africa during the past year, dubbed the “Arab Spring,” in which citizens raised their voice en masse to show their determination for freedom, justice and democracy, has introduced a new socio-political momentum to the African continent.

The unrest reflects the deep-rooted desire among North Africans for fundamental political, social and economic change. It has already resulted in the ousting of long-standing authoritarian leaders in Tunisia, Egypt,  and Libya, leading to deep-rooted political transformation. Today, their citizens are electing their representative leaders through meaningful democratic processes. Moreover, the chilling effects of the movements have also compelled leaders in other countries to take precautionary political reforms as we have witnessed in Morocco.

In the course of the political upheaval in North Africa, other significant dynamics have also emerged, such as the (re) introduction of religious-based political platforms. In Egypt and Tunisia, religious parties have surfaced as one of the main conduits for political campaigning. In some instances, tensions have escalated into violent conflicts, casting a dark shadow over the reform movement.

Religious tensions are not limited to North Africa but have also been witnessed recently in other African countries including Somalia, Ethiopia and Nigeria, resulting in the loss of lives and displacement of thousands of people from their homes. Some are questioning whether religious fundamentalism is emerging as a factor affecting the current political environment of the continent.  Others, however, believe that these shifts are not significant. An important question is what is driving the emergence of religious fundamentalism – poverty, exclusion, lack of jobs, lack of voice etc?

According to many commentators, religion can play an important role in the quest for freedom, justice and democracy, and not only in Africa. What is clear is that it is increasingly important to understand the powerful dynamics of religion and work together with religious figures and others in civil society to build stable, cohesive societies and promote national development agendas.