Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – UPF’s work in the DRC took an important step forward with the official launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace on July 4, 2026. The inaugural conference, organized by UPF-Africa, UPF-DRC and the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was held at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa, with approximately 200 participants, including senior parliamentary leaders, members of Parliament, UPF re

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – In commemoration of World Environment Day, UPF-Burkina Faso organized an event under the theme “Promoting Peace through Sanitation and Environmental Protection” on June 20, 2026. Although World Environment Day is officially observed on June 5, UPF-Burkina Faso chose June 20 to maximize local participation and public mobilization. The event emphasized the direct link between environmental degradation, community tensions, insecurity and social confli

Maputo, Mozambique – On May 31, 2026, the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD-Africa) convened the 6th Africa Spiritual Day in Maputo, Mozambique, under the theme “Family Values: A Blueprint for Interfaith Cooperation.” The event commemorated both the International Day of Families and Africa Day, bringing together approximately 2,000 onsite participants, including religious leaders, members of parliament, peace advocates, families, and community represe

Abuja, Nigeria – To celebrate the International Day of Families, UPF-Nigeria held a commemorative event in Abuja on May 28, 2026, focused on the United Nations’ designated theme, “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing.” The program also formed part of UPF’s third 100 Days Campaign of Hope and Peace, focused on “100 Days of Community Service.” The event opened with introductory remarks by Dr. George Charles Ikpot, secretary general of UPF-Nigeria, followed by a presentati

Godomey, Benin – A joint commemoration of World Football Day and Africa Day brought together more than 100 participants on May 24, 2026, in a lively and fraternal atmosphere marked by unity and celebration. The event was organized by UPF-Africa, UPF-Benin, and the Youth Department of FFWPU-Benin. The program included a celebratory segment in support of the ten African nations that qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026; the official launch of the Play Soccer, Make Peace initiative

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – A two-day Peace Leadership Seminar, organized by UPF-Tanzania at the Tulivu Centre in Dar es Salaam from May 23-24, 2026, focused on the theme “Building One Family Under God: Principles of Peace and Service.” The seminar brought together 65 participants from faith communities, youth groups and civil society organizations. Facilitated by Prof. Benezer David Mwang’ombe, secretary general of UPF-Tanzania, the training covered the UPF founders’ vision an

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire –The Federation of Tourism Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (FENITOURCI) and UPF-Côte d’Ivoire signed a partnership agreement on May 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Tourism Council, aimed at training 16,080 young people in tourism-related professions, while simultaneously promoting values of peace and social cohesion. The initiative, which will be deployed across all 201 communes of Côte d’Ivoire, seeks to train and support the professional integ

UPF-Africa – To mark both the International Day of Families and the International Day of Living Together in Peace, UPF-Africa convened an international webinar on the theme “Strong Families, Peaceful Nations: Transformative Leadership and Values-Based Governance for a Global Culture of Peace” on May 16, 2026. The two-hour session was hosted via Zoom and simulcast across Facebook, X and Instagram, in English and French. Participants included high-level government officials, fa

Yaoundé, Cameroon – A conference at the Deputy Hotel in Yaoundé on May 16, 2026, brought together religious leaders, community representatives, couples, families and youth to honor the International Day of Families. The event, organized by UPF-Cameroon and FFWPU Cameroon, aimed to promote family values, strengthen social cohesion, raise awareness on inequalities affecting families and children, and encourage dialogue on child protection and family stability as foundations for

Abuja, Nigeria – To commemorate International Women’s Day, UPF-Nigeria held a seminar on the dual themes of "Give to Gain" and "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls" on March 28, 2026. The event was organized by UPF Peace Ambassador Ms. Joy G. Fan. A keynote address by UPF Secretary General Dr. George Charles Ikpot focussed on the essential status and value of women within the family and broader society. He emphasized that justice for women is not merely a legal r

Nairobi, Kenya – The International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP) Africa organized a high-level continental webinar on the theme “No Peace Without Women” on March 28, 2026, in alignment with International Women’s Day. The program served as a working-level meeting, inaugurating new leadership and adopting a unified Call to Action, as IAFLP seeks to transition from dialogue to a structured, ECOSOC-aligned advocacy platform designed to influence peace and mediatio

Lusaka, Zambia – The International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) Zambia held a seminar for media professionals, educators and students at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka on March 19, 2026, on the theme “Building a Peace-Driven Media Culture.” The event, sponsored by UPF-Zambia, was endorsed by the Ministry of Information and Media; a ministry representative officially opened the event. The program focused on ethical journalism, and sought to position journalists as "a

Yaoundé, Cameroon – During a visit to Cameroon in March, Dr. Zinsou Paterne, secretary general of UPF-Africa and continental coordinator of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), presided over a multisectoral peace conference and secured a historic diplomatic breakthrough by establishing a national IAPP headquarters within the National Assembly. On March 12, 2026, UPF-Africa conducted a high-level Peace Promotion Conference and Investiture Cerem

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – At the invitation of the Polsogo Royal Court, UPF-Burkina Faso organized a public conference on Family and Social Cohesion on February 14, 2026. The event was hosted by His Majesty the Polsogo Naaba (Canton Chief), and attended by 300 members of the community. Opening prayers were conducted by both Christian and Muslim leaders. The program integrated peacebuilding principles into traditional community structures. Mr. Thomas Diarra, secretary gene

Cotonou, Benin – UPF-Africa organized a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2026, in Cotonou, followed by the official signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ecumenical Foundation for Peace in Africa (FOPA). The event was held in the Conference Hall of the Permanent Representation of ECOWAS in Benin. The event paid tribute to the legacy and universal values upheld by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It also formalized a strategic

Conakry, Guinea – In a vital humanitarian effort to support the most vulnerable members of society, UPF-Guinea organized a wide-scale distribution of specialized sanitary and nutritional kits in January, 2026. This initiative was specifically designed to improve the care and survival rates of premature infants. UPF volunteers distributed the health and nutrition kits to a comprehensive network of medical facilities, including two university teaching hospitals, five regional

Pô, Burkina Faso – In the city of Pô, the capital of Nahouri Province, UPF-Burkina Faso (UPF-BF) organized a peace conference on December 27, 2025, with the objectives of promoting peace and strengthening social cohesion, as well as expanding the national network of ambassadors for peace. The event brought together a wide cross-section of society, including administrative authorities, traditional leaders, religious figures, women leaders, youth representatives, and economic

Paynesville, Liberia – As part of its 100 Days of Harmony and Hope campaign, UPF-Liberia organized a character and peace education program on December 17, 2025, for students at the Calvary Chapel Mission School in Paynesville. Students in the 12 th grade participated in interactive learning sessions facilitated by Mr. Jee Do Arko and Pastor McCarthy Teayah, secretary general of UPF-Liberia. The lectures addressed key themes of character development and peace practices, en

Lusaka, Zambia – An interfaith dialogue at the Peace Embassy in Lusaka on December 18, 2025, brought together religious leaders representing Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. The event, organized by UPF-Zambia, drew more than 60 participants for talks on the theme “Interreligious Dialogue – Unity in Diversity.” The program aimed to promote peace, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence by creating a safe platform for interreligious exchange. Participants sha

Abuja, Nigeria – The solemn commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held on December 4, 2025, at the International Conference Center in Abuja. A UPF delegation attended the celebration, including Dr. Paterne Zinsou, secretary general of UPF-Africa; Dr. George Ikpot, secretary general of UPF-Nigeria; and Hon. Ebenezer Samuel, an ambassador for peace. The ceremony brought together, am