The Fifth Bi- Annual African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum (IFDF) General Assembly convened on November 5-6, 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia, focusing on the role of religious leaders in advocating for justice for African and people of African Descent.
Under the overarching theme Restoring Dignity: The Role of Religious Leaders in Advocating for Justice and Reparations and Preserving Cultural Heritage for Africans and Peoples of African Descent, “the Assembly brought together representatives from 35 African Member States, inter-religious councils, civil society organizations and faith-based organizations among others involving policymakers, civil society actors, youth representatives, and development partners from across the African continent and the diaspora.
The IFDF General Assembly aimed to provide a dynamic platform to explore the moral and spiritual imperatives of reparative justice aligning with the African Union theme of the year 2025: ‘Justice for African and People of African Decent through Reparations. The AU-IFDF5 underscore the central role of faith-based institutions in promoting peace, unity and healing.
The assembly encouraged collaboration and networking among participants, fostering partnerships and the sharing of best practices while facilitating cross-sector dialogue to identify opportunities for joint action and resource-sharing.
The opening ceremony featured addresses from Ms. Hazel Maureen Danetta Dixon, acting Head of the Civil Society Division who on behalf of the Civil Society and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), welcomed delegates to the Fifth African Union Interfaith Dialogue. She mentioned that the Forum is a platform born out of the belief that faith is a public force for justice, peace and human dignity.
Her remarks reflected the Secretariat's dedication and commitment to African Union’s commitment to stand with the Assembly, to bridge faith and policy, to connect Africa with the diaspora and to map a path that aligns spirituality with governance.
Rev. Julie Kandema, Steering Committee Chairperson (2024-2025), reiterated the dedication to supporting African Union frameworks. She emphasized that “Religious leaders must unite to advocate for justice and reparations by healing wounds, affirming life’s sacredness, preserving culture, and fostering faith partnerships for a united Africa.”
Mr. Agustin Nunez Vicandi of the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) highlighted a decade-long fruitful partnership with AUC -CIDO, focusing on bringing religious leaders and policymakers together. He underscored that “as moral voices in society, faith leaders can transform the call for reparative justice into a movement that is grounded in compassion, fairness, and collective responsibility."
Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) at the African Union Commission reviewed the mandate by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the Executive Council of the African Union in designating the 2025 Theme of the Year “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, which addresses the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and apartheid.
He highlighted that the relevant AU decisions at this highest level identified the issues to be addressed institutional reparations through the reform of the global governance, including the international and financial architecture and the United Nations Security Council, which should enable African to take its rightful well-deserved seat in these frameworks. “The mandate stemming from these decisions also extends to issues such the debt burden, climate justice, the restitution of cultural resources, and combatting systemic racism’, he added.
The representative from the Ministry of International Relations and Trade Ms. Sevelina Ashipalain drews the curtain at the end for the two-day forum. her remarks assure the Forum that "Namibia remains fully committed to this continental vision. Our own experience in confronting the legacies of the 1904–1908 genocide underscores the importance of truth-telling, acknowledgement, and genuine acts of restoration. We therefore stand in solidarity with all African states and peoples seeking comprehensive reparative justice frameworks that are credible, inclusive, and transformative." She mentioned that she was glad that the Forum was brought to her country Namibia and noted that Forum continues making such dialogues crucial in addressing the theme and related issues.
The sessions of roundtables, panel discussion and working groups explored reparative justice as a moral imperative and how faith leaders can advocate for reparations and justice building on a reparation’s movement involving youth and women voice. The second day featured the development of a faith-based reparations roadmap and a declaration.
The GA adopted the Windhoek Declaration reaffirming the commitment of religious leaders to collaborate with the African Union in:
• Promoting reparative justice and reconciliation rooted in faith-based values
• Preserving African cultural heritage as a cornerstone of dignity and identity.
• Amplifying intergenerational dialogue and youth engagement in reparations advocacy.
• Supporting implementation of AU Assembly Decisions 884 (2024), 903 (2025), and 934 (2025) related to reparations and justice for Africans and people of African descent.
The Forum took place with the attendance of, and cooperation with, the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), United Religions Initiative (URI), The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Inter-religious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), African Muslim Council (AFMC), and the Global Peace Foundation,
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Ms. Hazel Maureen Danetta Dixon I Regional Desk Officer I Citizens and Diaspora Directorate I African Union Commission I Email: dixonh@africanunion.org
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Mr. Molalet Tsedeke I Communication Officer I Information and Communication Directorate I African Union Commission I Email: Molalett@africanunion.org I Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
