The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
(CCCPA), in partnership with the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Mali and the African Union Mission in Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), conducted a four-day training on Enhancing the Role of Religious Leaders in Preventing Radicalization and Extremism Leading to Terrorism (PRELT). The capacity building training took place in Bamako, Mali, from 30 October to 2 November 2023.

H.E. Dr. Mahamadou Oumar Kone, Minister of Religious Affairs, H.E. Tarek Abdel Hamid, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Mali, Mr. Zeneth Fulgence, Head of MISAHEL, and members of the diplomatic community in Bamako, attended the opening ceremony.

In his keynote address, H.E. Dr. Kone emphasized the historical ties between Egypt and Mali, while thanking the Egyptian government for its support and assistance in addressing Mali’s multidimensional crisis. “CCCPA’s capacity-building training is a robust manifestation of the Egyptian will to support Mali in its fight against the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism,” he stated. He also noted that the Malian Government always welcomes and supports CCCPA’s initiatives.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Abdel Hamid emphasized that the training program is a testament to Egypt and Mali’s strong ties. He also highlighted Egypt’s longstanding position as a beacon of moderate religious education and elaborated on its leading role and expertise in countering terrorism and combating extremism. Additionally, he thanked Minister Kone for his support in bringing this training to fruition as well as CCCPA for “the significant initiative in organizing this timely and important training program.”

In a recorded message, Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Director General of CCCPA and Chair of the African Union Network of Think Tanks for Peace (AU NeTT4Peace), stated that “this training comes in the context of CCCPA’s ongoing efforts to build African capacities in the field of preventing radicalization and extremism conducive to terrorism in the Sahel,” and highlighted the role of CCCPA's PRELT program in leveraging the pillars of community resilience and the social influence exercised by religious leaders in their communities. He also underlined the importance of advancing preventative measures and strategies that respond to local realities on the ground, as well as investing in resilience-building. Finally, Ambassador Abdel-Latif extended his appreciation to the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Mali for their productive cooperation and to CCCPA’s partners for their support, stressing on the centrality of partnerships in carrying out such activities.

On his part, Mr. Fulgence highlighted that this training exemplifies the important partnership between the African Union and its partners, such as CCCPA, to confront the multifaceted phenomenon of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, which causes devastation across the Sahel and the continent at large. He stressed the need for adequate and holistic responses to “this grave danger, which requires concerted and efficient mobilization of efforts in order to find appropriate solutions.” He also extended his warm congratulations to the leaders chosen to benefit from this important training, “hoping that it would contribute to the existing efforts to prevent and combat radicalization and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in the Sahel.”

The training brought together 29 imams and religious leaders, including women, from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Coalition of Organizations for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, Aḥmad Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research in Timbuktu, the High Islamic Council of Mali, the National Union of Muslim Women's Associations of Mali, the Permanent Secretariat of the National Policy for Preventing and Combating Violent Extremism and Terrorism, and the Young Muslims Union of Mali, among others.

The aim of this advanced on-ground training is to empower religious leaders to help strengthen their communities’ resilience against terrorist ideologies and propaganda. More specifically, the training provides participants with in-depth Islamic teachings and theology on the rules and ethics of war and peace in Islamic Sharia, as well as key concepts that have been exploited by terrorist groups. It also enables participants to identify structural factors that can give rise to radicalization, while focusing on the growing nexus between conflict and terrorism.

Furthermore, the training provides participants with tools to deconstruct extremist narratives and skills to formulate alternative narratives grounded in peaceful coexistence and tolerance, and rooted in Islamic Sharia and community traditions. The training also provides participants with the skills that would allow them to communicate with and prevent the process of radicalization within their communities, particularly among youth. 

This training was implemented with the generous support of the Australian Government – the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).