Nouakchott, February 10, 2026 — Morocco’s Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, called for the restoration of an ethics of peace, emphasizing that reforming the individual is the foundation for building stable and peaceful societies.
Speaking at the opening session of the Sixth African Conference for the Promotion of Peace in Nouakchott, Toufiq said Muslims must recognize their responsibility to restore ethical conduct in their lives and make it a living example in promoting peace.
“The backgrounds of wars, whatever their forms, remain rooted in the human soul,” he said. “The making of peace begins from within—through the individual’s ability to examine himself, correct his conduct, and assume his moral and human responsibility.”
He stressed that restoring peace requires individuals to free themselves from egoism and harmful personal desires, which he described as a root cause of conflict.
He warned that selfishness fuels disputes at all levels of society, including between individuals, within families, among communities, and between nations.
Toufiq said the hope for renewal lies in correcting religious practice and restoring ethical conduct based on authentic religious principles, emphasizing that peace must be practiced in daily life and not reduced to slogans.
He called on scholars, preachers, and educators to explain religious concepts in ways that address contemporary realities while preserving their true meaning, stressing the importance of guiding communities toward ethical conduct and stability.
He also emphasized the need to distinguish between religion itself and human practice, noting that correcting misunderstandings and confronting extremist interpretations requires scholarly engagement and intellectual responsibility.
The minister highlighted Africa’s historic role in promoting justice and human dignity, recalling the early migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, where they found protection under a just ruler, and citing this as an example of Africa’s enduring moral significance.
The two-day conference aims to develop an operational African vision for strengthening peace through approaches grounded in educational, spiritual, and scholarly foundations, while reinforcing cooperation between governments, religious institutions, and civil society.
Over the years, the African Conference for the Promotion of Peace has become an important annual gathering, bringing together scholars, religious leaders, and policymakers from across the continent to promote stability and social cohesion.
On the sidelines of the conference, Toufiq held talks with Mauritanian Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Diay. The meeting was attended by Mauritania’s Minister of Islamic Affairs and Original Education, El Fadhil Ould Sidaty Ould Ahmed Louly, and Morocco’s Ambassador to Mauritania, Hamid Chabar.
Toufiq also took part in the conference’s opening session, which brought together African and international leaders to advance dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening peace across the continent.
