By UPF Africa
Writting by Patrick Jouan, vice-president, UPF-France
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Dakar, Senegal-On January 15 to 24, 2023, Dakar, Senegal witnessed the 1st Africa Summit for Peace, Unity, and Human Sustainable Development's anniversary, held from January 17 to 20, 2018. The summit, attended by around 1,200 individuals, was organized by UPF with the state and government of Senegal in agreement. In attendance were noteworthy government officials and religious leaders.
Notably, UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, referred to as Mother Moon, graced the summit as the Keynote Speaker. During her visit to Dakar, Senegal, Mother Moon commuted to Gorée Island and prayed for the thousands of Africans bound onto ships and consequently lost during the harsh years of the slave trade, leaving behind a tearful narrative.
In June 2022, during Africa Week at UNESCO, Mr. Doudou Diène, a Senegalese jurist and former UN Special Rapporteur on Racism and Xenophobia, and I met with the Assistant to the Mayor of Nantes, who invited us to participate in a ceremony on October 15th in Nantes in connection with the slavery memorial on Gorée Island. Also, in November 11th, in Lyon, I attended another commemorative event regarding the Senegalese soldiers who fought with the French Army during World War II.
Subsequently, during their visit to France, I introduced the UPF Peace Principles to Mrs. Mbeugué Dieng, the President of the Muslim Women's Federation for Peace in Senegal, and to Mr. Pape Ibrahima Ndiongue, a Senegalese journalist, and advisor for religious affairs to President Macky Sall. Furthermore, Mr. Ndiongue is also an Assistant Mayor in Cambérène, a town in the suburbs of Dakar.
Mr. Robin Graham, the International Director of Play Football Make Peace, a project initiated by the UPF founders, proposed we launch the Champions in Life Football for Peace project in Senegal, in cooperation with the Mayor of Gorée, Mr. Augustin Senghor, who is also the President of the Senegal Football Federation.
Therefore, in coordination with Mr. Abdou Gaye, who oversees UPF activities in Senegal, we planned a celebration on January 19th on Gorée Island to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Africa Summit. Informed of our plans, Mr. Ndiongue officially invited me via letter from the Presidential Office.
During the visit to Senegal, several meetings were held between UPF representatives and members of the local community. The first meeting was with Mr. Ndiongue at the city hall of Cambérène, where UPF introduced its activities and vision emphasizing the role of Africa in promoting world peace and discussed future activities in the city. On January 17, UPF visited Gorée to meet with the mayor and staff, where the population welcomed them with fond memories of the boat "Victoria" donated by Mother Moon to assist in ferrying those in urgent need of medical attention to Dakar.
On January 19, UPF held a prayer session at the House of Slaves on Gorée Island, led by UPF volunteers and friends, and joined by the local imam and a Catholic nun. The event commemorated Mother Moon's visit in 2018 and was followed by a celebratory reception at the city hall.
Additionally, several meetings were held with prominent spiritual leaders in the country such as Sheikh Mansour Diouf, key organizer of the Dakar Summit, the Grand Serigne of Dakar, Mokhtar Diop, Sheikh Saliou Mbacke, the third-generation descendant of Prophet Bamba who founded the Mouride brotherhood and Sheikh Daouda Sidibé. Senegal prides itself on interreligious dialogue, which is a key part of the country's fabric. Interestingly, the former Catholic president of Senegal, Leopold Sédar Senghor, supported Muslim brotherhoods, their holy sites, and mosques throughout his presidency (1960-1980).
On January 22, the Football for Peace project was introduced to the residents of Gorée, which included an organized football game. Upon the next day, January 23, the Champions in Life project of Football for Peace was inaugurated with the support of the mayor of Gorée and Football Federation President, Augustin Senghor. The project aims to mentor youth in developing their personality and virtues while providing them with pathways to success through sports. A video elaborating on Football for Peace was also screened and followed by a speech delivered by two young people.
Before concluding their visit, Abdou Gaye and the writer met with Sheikh Saliou Mbacke, an influential leader of the Mouride brotherhood who actively advocates for interfaith dialogue on an international level. During the encounter, both parties discussed strategies for building peace through interfaith dialogue and presented a gifted copy of the World Scripture book. The writer departed Senegal with a sense of gratitude, recognizing that bilateral cooperation between countries is of utmost importance in reconciling with past events and building an optimistic future filled with hope.
