The United States Africa Command has stressed that religion remains a critical factor in achieving regional stability, ethical leadership and military readiness across West Africa, saying military institutions cannot effectively respond to the region’s complex security challenges without recognising the central role of faith.

The Command Chaplain at U.S. Africa Command, Chaplain Colonel Kevin Forrester, spoke during a virtual media briefing on Tuesday as part of the events of the ongoing West Africa Religious Affairs Symposium in Accra, Ghana.

Speaking, Forrester stated that religion influences virtually every African society and should be regarded as a strategic asset rather than a peripheral issue.

The symposium, jointly hosted by U.S. Africa Command and the Ghana Armed Forces, brings together military chaplains and religious leaders from 10 West African countries, along with representatives of the U.S. State Partnership Programme.

According to him, all participating countries share a common commitment to protecting the spiritual well-being of their military personnel while respecting the diverse religious traditions represented within their armed forces.

“The timing is critical because our partner forces are operating in increasingly complex, high-stress security environments. There are threats and challenges that many of our partner nations face that impact this critical region,” he said.

Forrester added, “The 10 West African nations gathered here this week are completely united in their commitment to provide for and protect the spiritual well-being of their forces, and they do so in a way that honours the faith traditions and the values of the various service members.

“This symposium simply brings these religious leaders together to broaden their cooperation and commitment to use religion as a unifying force for peace and stability.”

Explaining why AFRICOM considers military chaplaincy strategically important, Forrester said religion remained deeply embedded in African societies and was indispensable to building resilient security institutions.

“Across Africa, there is not a single country where religion is not a significant factor influencing the people and the culture. In the military, we call this a centre of gravity.

“Regional stability and prosperity require institutional strength, ethical practice, and the moral foundation that religious traditions provide. Chaplains possess a unique and strategic advantage of being able to instil those virtues and values in their respective military communities.”

He added that chaplains were uniquely positioned to engage military personnel through shared values that transcend ethnic, linguistic and national differences.

“Because we operate in harmony with our respective faith traditions, chaplains can engage partner nations on the foundational levels of culture, faith, and shared humanity that transcend traditional barriers.

“By bringing these religious leaders together, we are building bridges where others cannot, establishing a shared framework of trust and interoperability across West Africa,” he said.

Forrester stressed that the symposium was not an attempt to export the American model of military chaplaincy but rather to strengthen cooperation while respecting the religious diversity of participating countries.

“The symposium is pluralism in action. We aren’t here to impose the U.S. model. We are here because we deeply respect the diverse, pluralistic nature of these nations.

“When you see a Muslim chaplain and a Catholic priest collaborating side by side to support a unit, that isn’t just religious tolerance, it’s operational strength. Our shared mission is building resilience for our troops,” he said.

He added that the gathering was also designed to support the chaplains themselves.

“Crucially, this week is also about chaplains taking care of chaplains, giving these caregivers a vital opportunity to decompress with peers of like mind and faith.”

Responding to questions, Forrester described the symposium itself as a major milestone because it marked the first time military religious leaders from the participating countries had gathered for such engagement.

“The true victory here is that we are doing this together. This is the first time that these nations have gathered around the cause of religious support. It’s the first time these chaplains have engaged with the various chaplains of other nations.

Despite language differences among participants, he said the event demonstrated that cooperation across the region was achievable.

“The beauty that you see here is that we have 10 nations; we have no common language amongst the group… The fact that we’re able to come together and be completely unified, that in and of itself is a tremendous win,” he added.

According to him, the symposium would strengthen future cooperation across multiple sectors.

“What this event will do for us is allow us to continue to build cooperation and interoperability across this region.

“Stability in this region is going to require all the nations working together, and this only reinforces that we can do it militarily, we can do it culturally, we can do it economically, and we can do it spiritually,” Forrester said

The Religious Affairs Senior Enlisted Leader at U.S. Africa Command, Sgt Maj Herinah Asaah, said one of the most significant lessons emerging from the symposium was the need for military chaplaincy to adapt to changing realities, especially among younger service members.

“WARAS, especially day one, was very eye-opening and very enriching. And we all agreed that meeting our service members where they are is the modern chaplain’s ultimate best practice,” she warned

She explained that military chaplaincy was evolving beyond traditional office-based ministry.

“The chaplaincy is rapidly evolving from a traditional, reactive, desk-bound role to an active, mobile presence in both physical and digital spaces,” Asaah stated.

According to Asaah, participating countries shared experiences on how technology and social media are helping them maintain contact with soldiers despite personnel shortages and operational constraints.

She, however, stressed that digital engagement could not replace personal interaction.

“We are also looking at ways to meet the young generation where they are, but also to keep that face-to-face front and centre because we still believe that what we offer is a human phenomenon.

“We all agreed again that the best ministry happens when you show up,” he said.

Asaah also highlighted the challenges of supporting troops deployed across AFRICOM’s vast area of responsibility.

“The AFRICOM area of responsibility is vast… ensuring that our service members who are operating in a small, dispersed, and remote team have continuous access to care.”

She said the command prepares military personnel spiritually before deployment by equipping them with emotional and psychological coping mechanisms.

She also said one of the biggest responsibilities of military leaders was encouraging personnel to seek help without fear of stigma.

“Our constant challenge is breaking down the stigma of letting our troops know that they can seek help at any time.

“We rely heavily on squad leaders and non-commissioned officers to act as our eyes and ears, recognising behavioural changes and connecting our troops with the religious affairs specialists before a normal stressor becomes a crisis,” she said.

In his closing remarks, Forrester reaffirmed the importance of sustained regional collaboration.

“Our chaplains are vital to the readiness of the force, but they can’t do it alone.

“By continuously hosting engagements like this symposium, we gain a much deeper understanding of the strengths, capabilities, and frameworks with our West African partners.

“This ensures that when we collaborate, we do so with a unified commitment to professional military conduct, ethical leadership, and mutual respect for human dignity and religious diversity,” he said.