Christian-Muslim Children and Youth Empowerment: Interfaith De-radicalisation Engagements to Minimise Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa

Abstract

The paper examines the roles that Christian and Muslim religious organisations can play to set up the ‘Christian-Muslim Children and Youth Empowerment Programme’ aimed at de-radicalisation engagements to minimise terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. To have clear grasp of the underpinnings of the research concern, the Literary Interpretation Methodology, which provides a framework to examine textual themes, explore cultural meanings, and examine social relationships was relied on to interact with archived contemporary reports, biblical texts, and Qur’anic sources that shed light on the science of faith-based organizations, the rational of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, and the possibility of Christian-Muslim de-radicalisation engagements. Study findings indicate that in Sub-Saharan Africa, armed conflicts, although ignited by political disgruntlements, are often instigated by Christian and Islamic ideologies. Overseas funders influence faith-based organisations to establish robust environments for converts within communities where charity-driven services are offered. In pursuit of their goals, they work hard to convert non-adherents to their religion. On the ground, foreign influence is reflected in the design of the educational curriculum, the enforcement of foreign moral values, and the exclusion of non-adherents to a given religious faith from services. As a result, there is widespread economic poverty in Africa. Financial poverty is one of the push factors that has been found to incite radical movements and violent extremism. Young people are influenced by religious teachings that promise them Heavenly Paradise privileges, to escape from poverty, corruption, scarce marital partners, and illiteracy, which have thwarted their life career opportunities to join terrorist groups. Terrorist actions have led to loss of life, displacement of communities, closure of schools, and overall insecurity in Africa. To minimise terrorist acts, it is recommended that interreligious leaders establish locally sustainable Christian-Muslim de-radicalisation programmes to empower young people with interfaith engagement skills.