Africa Together: A Continental Call to Religious Freedom

June 17, 2025

The International Religious Freedom Summit is pleased to announce its first regional conference in Africa, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Home to a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and spiritual heritage, Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. As the world’s fastest-growing population and a region facing complex religious freedom challenges, Africa serves as an essential focus for the global religious freedom movement. Advancing religious freedom across the continent is vital to promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development worldwide.

Led by panels of regional experts, participants at this gathering will consider the impact of government actions on religious freedom in Africa and the critical role played by faith communities in restoring peace to a region plagued by sectarian violence. Join the IRF Summit and principle organizing partners, Pepperdine University and Religious Freedom Institute. Special thanks to the Global Peace Foundation, which serves as the in-country organizing parter.

Nairobi, Kenya

Join leading experts at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel to address the challenges of religious freedom in Africa.

partners

Topics

Join the IRF Summit co-chairs and an array of civil society leaders from across the continent as they discuss the context, the challenges, and the path forward for  freedom of religion and belief in Africa.

Religious Freedom and State Regulation: Emerging Challenges in Africa

Why IRF Summit Africa?

African Values & Religious Freedom: Advancing Religious Freedom in Africa

Faith Leaders as Ethical Innovators: Advancing Religious Freedom as a Catalyst for African Renaissance

Advancing Religious Freedom Through Judicial Reform

Legal Approaches to Advancing Religious Freedom in Africa: Experiences from the Continent

Strengthening Collaboration and Solidarity to Protect Freedom of Religion or Belief across Africa

CONVENERS

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett

IRF Summit

Co-Chair

Amb. Sam Brownback

IRF Summit

Co-Chair

Mama Bola Obasanjo

IRF Summit Africa Co-Chair Former First Lady of Nigeria

Martha Koome

Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya

Jim Gash

President

Pepperdine University

Danny Dewalt

Senior Vice President of Global Impact and Chief of Staff

Pepperdine University

David Trimble

President

Religious Freedom Institute

Dr. Paul Murray

International Vice President, Religious Freedom Initiatives

Global Peace Foundation

Schedule

Monday, June 16

  • 15:00 Religious Freedom and State Regulation: Emerging Challenges in Africa
    • Location: Mt. Elgon D
    • Open to all attendees
  • 16:30 Registration Opens
  • 18:30 Speaker & Sponsor Dinner
    • Invitation only

Tuesday, June 17 (Session’s will be held in the Jambo Ballroom)

  • 08:00 Registration Opens
  • 09:00 Morning Session
    • Why IRF Summit Africa?
    • Survivor Testimony
    • African Values & Religious Freedom: Advancing Religious Freedom in Africa
    • Survivor Testimony
    • Faith Leaders as Ethical Innovators: Advancing Religious Freedom as a Catalyst for African Renaissance
  • 13:10 Lunch Session (Located at the Paradise Gardens)
    • Special Keynote Remarks
  • 14:45 Afternoon Session
    • Survivor Testimony
    • Exploring Effective Judicial Innovations in Religious Freedom Conflicts
    • Closing Keynote Remarks
  • 18:30 Dinner Session
    • Special Keynote Remarks

Wednesday, June 18

  • 08:30 Coffee and tea networking event
    • Location: Mt. Elgon D
  • 09:00 Legal Approaches to Advancing Religious Freedom in Africa: Experiences from the Continent
    • Location: Mt. Elgon D
    • Open to all attendees
  • 10:00 Refreshments break
  • 10:30 Strengthening Collaboration and Solidarity to Protect Freedom of Religion or Belief across Africa
    • Location: Mt. Elgon D
    • Open to all attendees

details

This Summit gathering will be held at the Safari Park Hotel. Attendance will be capped at 200 persons, with online registration limited to 100. The registration fee covers the cost of meals and does not include travel or accommodations.

The event is open to the press.

For more information, please reach out to manus.churchill@irfsummit.org.