LocationsReligious and Traditional Leaders Harness Digital Tools for Peacebuilding
Faith and Tradition Unite Against Hate Speech in Wau
June 18, 2026
UNDP/2026
Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal — June 18, 2026. The Ministry of Peacebuilding, in partnership with KOICA, UNDP, and local peace actors, convened a two-day engagement under the theme “Engaging Faith Based and Traditional Leaders to Counter Hate Speech and Misinformation.” The event brought together more than 40 participants (34 male, 10 female) from churches, mosques, traditional councils, and community organizations to strengthen their capacity to promote tolerance and counter-hate speech through digital platforms.
Opening the forum, the Director General of the State Ministry of Peacebuilding in Wau, Western Bhar El Ghazal State - Ann Daniel Ali emphasized that combating hate speech requires both moral authority and modern communication tools. “Faith leaders are trusted messengers,” she said, “and when they use digital enablers responsibly, they can transform online spaces into platforms for reconciliation.”
The Director General of the State Ministry of Peacebuilding explaining the importance of countering hate speech using digital tools
UNDP/2026
The Director of Coordination and Public Information of the National Ministry of Peacebuilding - Abraham Deng, also called on religious and traditional leaders to be posting peace messages.
The Wau sessions focused on defining hate speech, digital enablers for peace messaging, and building collaboration between faith and traditional leaders. Participants explored how social media campaigns, community radio, and mobile messaging can amplify positive narratives and dispel misinformation that often fuels local tensions.
Interactive Learning and Local Action
The engagement with Faith-based and Traditional Leaders featured practical exercises on developing peace messages, simulation sessions using mobile apps, and group work to map hate speech triggers. Facilitators from UNDP and Social Media Content Creator guided participants in designing locally relevant counter narratives for posting on digital platforms.
Media Influencer training Faith-based and Traditional Leaders on Digital Tools
UNDP/2026
Faith leaders from Wau, Jur River, and Raja counties shared experiences of using WhatsApp groups and radio talk shows to promote coexistence. Traditional chiefs highlighted the importance of linking digital outreach with community dialogues to ensure messages resonate offline.
Traditional Leaders and Faith-based leaders of Western Bhar El Ghazal State practicing content posting
UNDP/2026
Commitment to Collaboration
The closing session produced a joint Commitment Statement affirming cooperation between religious, traditional, and civic actors. The statement calls for continuous monitoring of online hate speech, community-based reporting mechanisms, and integration of peace messaging into sermons and cultural events.
UNDP’s Reintegration Specialist noted that the initiative aligns with the National Hate Speech Action Plan and the Media Outreach and Public Communications Strategy, both aimed at fostering inclusive action towards mitigating hate speech.
Day 1 sessions on Defining Hate Speech and Misinformation enabled participants to contextualize local examples and risks. Demonstrations by UNDP, and Media Content Creator trainers improved familiarity with mobile and social media tools for peace messaging.
Day 2’s Simulation - Using Digital Tools to Disseminate Peace Messages resulted in draft social media posts and radio scripts promoting tolerance. The Media Content Creator Trainer BAF 1 introduced WhatsApp, Facebook, and community radio as channels for counter messaging. Faith and traditional leaders are now equipped to use digital platforms to amplify peace messages and counter misinformation. Leaders can now recognize online and offline hate speech patterns and respond using verified information and inclusive narratives.
The Plenary Discussion:
Role of Faith Based and Traditional Leaders produced consensus on leadership roles in promoting social cohesion. The Building Collaboration and Referral Pathways session developed a coordination matrix linking religious councils, peace committees, and CSOs.
Consensus building between faith-based and traditional leaders to counter hateful narratives in the digital space.
UNDP/2026
Two localized action plans were drafted and endorsed by participants. Each plan outlines digital outreach strategies, community reporting mechanisms, and follow up training schedules. The Closing Session and Commitment Statements formalized commitments to implement these plans.
The two day engagement achieved its objectives by combining capacity building, digital innovation, and collaborative planning. Participants left with actionable tools, validated local plans, and a shared commitment to counter hate speech and misinformation through faith based and traditional leadership. The Ministry of Peacebuilding presented the national framework, ensuring coherence between local initiatives and national priorities. This Strengthened institutional ownership and policy coherence for hate speech prevention across states.
Looking Ahead
Participants agreed to form a Digital Peace Network to sustain collaboration and share verified information across communities. The Ministry of Peacebuilding will support follow‑up training and provide technical assistance for content creation and monitoring.
The Wau engagement marks a significant step toward bridging tradition and technology — proving that when faith and innovation meet, peace can find a louder, clearer voice online and in communities.
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