Interreligious Council of Liberia Lays the Groundwork for Peace

The Religions for Peace Interreligious Council of Liberia (RfP-IRCL) was established in 1990 during the devastating First Liberian Civil War. Muslim and Christian religious leaders created a platform for religions to work together to bring peace through conflict mediation. For its role in the Liberian Peace initiative from 1990, RfP-IRCL won the Desmond Tutu Peace Award.

RfP-IRCL’s mediation during the Liberian crisis initiated a framework forming the basis for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Peace Plan for Liberia, including a ceasefire, roundtable conference, peacekeeping force and security. The plan led to general elections in 1997. RfP-IRCL also engaged the UN platform for Liberia called the International Contact Group on Liberia that facilitated the final phase of the Liberian peace process in 2003.