GBARNGA, BONG CO. – The OMNIA Institute of Contextual Leadership has trained 100 Inter-faith Peacemakers in Bomi county. The group which was divided into 5 Inter-faith Peacemaker Teams (IPTs) -consisting of Muslims, Christians, and Traditional Elders amongst others – are geared toward building sustainable peace in that part of Liberia. The training was conducted in Tubmanburg from October 25 to 26.
The workshop is in line with OMNIA’s goal to reduce extremism, conflict, and violence for the affirmation of sustainable peace worldwide. It is the expectation of the Concerned Christian Community (CCC) and OMNIA that the IP Teams will grow gradually to achieve these goals.
In achieving the goal of peacebuilding, the IP Teams in countries where OMNIA is working encouraged peace negotiation through social development and capacity building. The group supports community projects by mobilizing IPT members to address some basic needs of the community.
Through the 2-day workshop, CCC & OMNIA were able to identify the economic empowerment program as a crucial need for the people of Bomi County.
Also during the training, CCC & OMNIA identified the root causes of discord between religious groups in Bomi County as disregard for each other beliefs.
Speaking during a cross-section of the training, Imam Mohammed Konneh projected the prospect of the interfaith peacemaker teams in the county, if both dominant religious groups- Christian & Muslim- demonstrate respect for each other beliefs.
The participants of the workshop however applauded OMNIA through CCC for recognizing Bomi county as a focal point of the IPT initiative, something according to them is the first of a kind. The participants believed that collaborating with religious groupings, elders and other civil society actors in the county is the best way to achieve peacebuilding.
Making remarks, CCC Executive Director Bishop Kortu K. Brown announced that the five (5) IPT groups in Bomi county will be launched very soon. According to the group leader, the occasion will bring together local and national government, youth networks, and other stakeholders of the county.
