Jos (Nigeria): a Conference on peace, the service to the poor and the intereligious dialogue
(15h march 2011)

Jos is the capital city of Plateau, one of the 36 counties in Nigeria. Once known as ‘homeland of Peace and Tourism’, it turned into a place characterised in the last decade by tensions and violent fighting among local ethnic groups and new ones recently moved into the region.

It is a complex conflict, due to a number of ethnic, political and socio-economic issues. A religious matter arose due to the Christian origin of the local groups and the Muslim tradition of the newcomers. Nowadays, Jos is a split into several areas, either Christian or Muslim, where people of opposite faith do not have any access to.

The Community of Sant’Egidio, in response to the existing tensions, organised a conference to promote a culture of the living together.  Last 15th March, a Conference on peace, the service to the poor and the intereligous dialogue was hold with an audience of 250 young people.