African Religious Leaders Call for the Protection of LGBT Rights and Sexual Health
At the MenEngage Africa symposium held in Mombasa, Kenya, in mid-August 2026, African religious leaders and human rights advocates discussed the role of faith in sexual education and human rights protection. Participants urged religious communities to become spaces for open discussions on reproductive health and to oppose conservative campaigns targeting women’s and LGBT rights.
Imam Bukuru Elie Khalfan from Burundi, head of the Imams for She initiative, stated that spiritual leaders are already involved in issues of family and bodily autonomy, so their influence should reduce stigma rather than reinforce it. He emphasized the importance of regular sex education, defending the rights of congregants, and providing theological training for imams and priests.
Koami Mawuwi Ahiakon from West Africa stressed that progressive movements must not leave the concepts of family, culture, and sovereignty to conservatives. According to him, countering campaigns against gender equality and sexual minority rights requires broad coalitions involving human rights defenders, medical professionals, youth, and religious figures, as is already happening in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Reverend Ngonidzashe Mutume from Zimbabwe added that clergy enjoy a level of public trust often lacking in state healthcare systems. He cited the Zimbabwean initiative MyAge Africa, which brought together Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders for dialogue. In his view, successful human rights advocacy must be grounded in theology and sacred texts, rather than appearing as an imposition of external values.
Cynthia Lungu, a UNAIDS representative in Eastern and Southern Africa, presented a regional compendium of best practices developed jointly with traditional leaders from Eswatini, Botswana, South Africa, and Malawi. The document outlines concrete steps for adapting successful strategies to change harmful social norms across different countries.
Ishmael Bahati, co-founder of the Kenyan LGBT organization PEMA Kenya, noted that the anti-rights movement has become a global challenge. According to allAfrica.com , he outlined five priorities to counter this trend: regional solidarity, creating educational materials based on the Quran and the Bible, training activists within religious communities, providing scientific education for spiritual leaders themselves, and changing the public narrative. Bahati emphasized that faith is meant to protect people, not isolate them.
