"Peace in Africa" .. A New Release by MCE at Cairo Book Fair

The stand of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Cairo International Book Fair offers visitors a selection of its latest publications for 2025. Among the highlights is the book "Peace in Africa: Studies and Visions for Enhancing Stability and Development," a collective work by the team from the project "Muslim Communities and Peacebuilding in Africa," published by the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research.

The book highlights a significant paradox concerning Africa: despite its complex and challenging landscape, characterized by difficulties in various aspects of life, fluctuating stability, and declining development indicators across many countries, Africa remains historically important and holds promising potential—materially and culturally. These attributes establish Africa as a continent of the future, fiercely contested by various powers eager to tap into its human and natural resources and secure their economic interests and strategic positions across the region.

The author further explains that despite this, African countries and communities are commonly perceived as being plagued by instability, chronic conflicts, and various disputes. While this portrayal may not fully align with the actual conditions, it continues to attract significant attention from academic circles, intellectuals, community leaders, and research institutions, particularly focusing on these aspects. This interest is especially directed towards the African reality, influenced by these general perceptions on one hand, and by the digital and statistical data about the continent on the other.

This book is the culmination of a collaborative effort within the African Studies program at the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research, affiliated with the Muslim Council of Elders. It is part of a broader series of regional studies launched by the center, featuring contributions from approximately thirty scholars and experts in African studies from across the globe, with scholarly works presented in both Arabic and English.

This book delves into the complex dynamics of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Africa, with a specific emphasis on the Sahel and Sahara regions. It seeks to harness the potential of traditional African knowledge systems and practices in addressing modern challenges, providing practical ideas and insights to bolster peacebuilding efforts across the continent. Additionally, the book calls for a transformative shift in peace studies related to Africa, aiming to better utilize the continent's expertise, values, and knowledge systems.

The book emphasizes that achieving peace in Africa requires more than just the absence of violence according to the Western liberal understanding; it necessitates active efforts towards reconciliation and coexistence based on principles of human rights, social justice, economic equality, and political justice, with a focus on reconciliation and restoring social and human solidarity.

The book comprises ten chapters. The first chapter, authored by Adil Moussaoui, discusses conflict resolution efforts in Africa, aiming to understand the challenges that hinder peace on the continent. In the second chapter, Mohamed Ashour Mehdi sheds light on the various dimensions of religious extremism and violence within Muslim communities across the continent. The third chapter by Adam Yousif explores the impact of African community cultures on democratic processes. The fourth chapter by Dr. Sodfa Mohamed Mahmoud presents alternative views on Western peace models, emphasizing the role of cultural heritage in resolving conflicts in Africa. The fifth chapter by Lama Gaith offers a detailed case study on managing internal conflict in Mali, focusing on institutional methods.

In the sixth chapter, Al-Bashir Al-Kut addresses Islamic political movements in Libya and their impact on regional stability. The seventh chapter, by Rahal Boubrik, discusses "jihadist" groups in the Sahel countries, explaining their ideological and ethnic affiliations. Mustafa Zahran, in the eighth chapter, explores the role of armed Sufi movements in Somalia. In the ninth chapter, Abdulrahman Sebi discusses the role of religious scholars in promoting peace and combating extremism in Mali. Finally, the tenth chapter by Ahmed Al-Salehi assesses the effectiveness of the G5 Sahel Joint Force in enhancing peace and security in the region. Thus, each chapter contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted challenges and potential pathways toward peacebuilding in Africa.

The Muslim Council of Elders participates with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand hosts a large number of the Council's distinguished publications, in addition to organizing a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of goodness, amity, peace, and coexistence among all people.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located at the Cairo International Book Fair, Stand B43, Hall No. 4, at the Egypt International Exhibition and Convention Center, in the Fifth Settlement.