Inaugural International Religious Freedom Summit Africa Held in Nairobi: Historic Step for Human Rights and Development -

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The first, International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit Africa was held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, bringing together high-profile global and African leaders united by a singular goal: Religious Freedom for Everyone.

Organized by Pepperdine University in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute, and convened in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation, the two-day summit aimed to promote religious liberty as a cornerstone for peace, dignity, human rights, and sustainable development across Africa.

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Although the IRF Summit has been held in Washington D.C., Japan, and Taiwan over the past five years, this is the first time the summit has ever been hosted in Africa, signaling a renewed global commitment to addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding religious freedom on the continent.

“This is a foundational human right,” said Ambassador Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and Co-Chair of the Summit. “If a continent wants to grow and develop, it must guarantee religious freedom for everyone—all the time.”

Brownback emphasized the indivisibility of religious freedom from other liberties, such as freedom of speech and assembly.

“Religious liberty is not only a matter of conscience; it’s essential to development, security, and democratic governance,” he added.

Dignitaries and Thought Leaders Unite

The summit featured an impressive lineup of dignitaries and thought leaders, including:

Amb. Sam Brownback, IRF Summit Co-Chair

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation and Co-Chair of the IRF Summit

H.E. Chief Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, Former First Lady of Nigeria and IRF Africa Co-Chair

Senior judiciary representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Gambia, Somalia, and Ethiopia

Senior officials from the U.S. State Department

Civil society and government representatives from over 20 African nations

A keynote message delivered on behalf of Chief Justice Martha Koome by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu reaffirmed Kenya’s judicial commitment to safeguarding religious freedoms and echoed support for the summit’s overarching themes of tolerance, pluralism, and rule of law.

The summit included plenary sessions, survivor testimonies, panel discussions, and structured networking focused on the following themes:

African Values and Religious Freedom

Faith Leaders as Ethical Innovators for African Renaissance

Judicial Innovations in Religious Freedom Conflicts

Speakers reiterated the urgent need for African nations to move beyond religious favoritism and persecution. “Too many governments in Africa still favor one religion over others,” Brownback warned. “This leads to violence, oppression, and insecurity.”

He cited a concerning statistic: 145 Catholic priests have been kidnapped in Nigeria over the last decade, with at least 11 killed—a chilling reminder of the cost of neglecting this fundamental right. Brownback hinted that if the trend continues, Nigeria could once again be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” by the U.S. government.

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett emphasized the need for unity across religious and non-religious communities. “Not everyone agrees on theology, but we can all agree on the universal right to believe, or not believe, and to live according to one’s conscience without fear,” she said.

Chief Mrs. Bola Obasanjo praised the summit for opening a vital dialogue across faiths and institutions, calling on African leaders to commit to actionable policy frameworks that protect this right for all.

Pepperdine University Principals address the Press at Safari Park Nairobi.

Africa’s Moment for Religious Liberty

As religious diversity continues to grow across Africa, so does the need for robust protection of religious expression. The summit made clear that religious freedom is not a Western export, but rather an intrinsic African value one that is essential for peace, prosperity, and unity.