Traditional chiefs and elders are increasingly involved in peace-building initiatives across Africa, particularly in Nigeria, which faces significant challenges: organized crime, jihadism and violence in the Niger Delta region.

Last September, UPHOLDD Nigeria, an NGO that tries to engage young people in development projects, launched an initiative ahead of the 2027 elections to promote inclusive governance and peacebuilding.
The plan is to rally 3,600 monarchs around this project, including the Emirs of the North, the Obas of the West and the Obis of the East, as well as other kings such as the Olu of Warri, the Orodje of Okpe in Delta State, the Etsu Nupe in Niger State and the Esu Karu in Nasarawa State.
The UPHOLDD initiative is part of the wider RESHAPE people’s campaign, which aims to mobilise 36 million ‘culture impact marshals’ not
only to celebrate heritage but also to foster good governance,
democracy and development.

A group of the young people. RHESHAPE programme aims to connect millions of young Nigerians and build bridges across religion, ethnicity and region. 123rf

The RHESHAPE programme plans to establish thousands of constituency-based impact hubs to promote diversity, integration, innovation, enterprise, youth empowerment, values and inclusive governance.  Ultimately, the aim is to connect millions of young Nigerians and build bridges across religion, ethnicity and region.
Such initiatives stem from the belief that traditional chiefs can play a vital role in peace processes across Africa. In Somalia, for example, after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 and the subsequent civil war, the elders emerged as the only institution in which the citizens had confidence. This is why the UN Restore Hope Operation held permanent consultations with Somali elders at the time.
In December 2021, the UN reaffirmed its belief in the peace-building potential of traditional leaders at a conference organised by the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel in Dakar.  The conference explored the role of religious and traditional leaders in consolidating peace and preventing conflicts. Participants proposed a ‘direct and frank dialogue’ between states and local entities, the promotion of values among young people, and the creation of observatories to monitor disinformation and hate speech, to combat extremist narratives.

the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has enabled two million girls to enrol in school. File swm

Development is another area in which traditional leaders can play a role. In February 2025, the World Bank praised their part in the ‘quiet revolution’ that transformed girls’ education in northern Nigeria. These are the same leaders who, in the past, were custodians of cultural norms that prioritised domestic roles for girls over education, but who are now becoming advocates for change.
The late Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir, the Emir of Gaya in Kano State, and Alhaji Haruna, the Emir of Katsina State, are among those supporting the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), launched in 2020 to improve secondary education opportunities. AGILE has enabled two million girls to enrol in school.

Significant influence
Traditional chiefs have significant influence in many African countries. In Burkina Faso, for example, traditional chiefs have played a key role in promoting the policies of the ruling party since former President Blaise Compaoré recognised their role in the constitution in 2012. However, the subsequent recognition of their influence prompted civil society organisations such as the Centre pour la Gouvernance Démocratique (CGD) to advocate for their neutrality. In Benin, a new law passed in 2025 prohibits traditional chiefs or kings from engaging in political activities unless they relinquish their status. This decision was welcomed by His Royal Highness Gangouro Souambou, King of Kika, as it was intended to put an end to candidates visiting chiefs before every election to ask for a royal blessing or to mobilise their subjects.

In Burkina Faso, traditional chiefs have played a key role in promoting the policies of the ruling party. 123rf

In many countries, the colonial state relied on traditional leaders to communicate its decisions and control the population. After gaining independence, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s modern state recruited traditional chiefs who were appointed ex officio as members of the provincial parliaments following the 2006 constitutional referendum.
Botswana and Somaliland are ranked as two of the most stable states on the continent. Their local democratic systems combine modern forms of political governance with a House of Chiefs (Ntlo Ya Dikgosi in Botswana), which represents the interests of tribes and traditional values. Customary courts are commonplace in rural areas.
As the Academic Associates PeaceWorks points out, Nigeria also has a long history in this regard, dating back to the establishment of a National Corps of Mediators by General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1992. This initiative brought together prominent members of civil society who were trained to mediate in community conflicts. There is a long record of initiatives in this context, such as the role played by the King of Wukari in the peace process between the Tiv and Jukun peoples in Taraba State. Several chiefs, including the Obol Lopon of Ugep in Cross River State and His Eminence Ediden Ekpo Okon Abosi Otu (V), the Obong of Calabar, as well as King Dandeson Jaja of Opobo in Rivers State, participated in the Niger Delta Dialogue, which aimed to ensure security and address challenges such as drug trafficking in their respective kingdoms.

Local Monarchs
Since 1998, traditional rulers such as the Etsu Nupe have played an instrumental role in supporting the development of the Nigerian Peace Corps, alongside religious leaders and state institutions, to promote peace and mobilise young people for community projects. Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is engaging with traditional rulers and women leaders to build a large coalition for peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
In the Niger Delta, monarchs play a crucial mediation role between the oil industry — particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) — and local communities.

Abubakar ibn Umar Garba Abba Kiyari el-Kanemi is the shehu of the Borno Emirate. Shutterstock/Sadiqnanic

Last March, the Association of Niger Delta Monarchs of Nigeria supported the federal government’s decision to renew the pipeline surveillance contract, as this infrastructure helps reduce pollution and oil theft. To defuse vandalism, King Frank Okurakpo and other local chiefs persuaded the federal government to increase its budget and release funds to sustain peace, empower ex-agitators and boost economic growth and social stability in the area.  In May, the Osun State Government Peace Committee resolved communal clashes between the Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities over land disputes, resulting in loss of life and property. This was achieved with the collaboration of the local monarchs. The role of traditional leaders is not a miracle cure. However, their experience, wisdom and deep knowledge of the culture, as well as their commitment to preserving the environment and sacred forests, mean that they have a legitimacy that can be invaluable for conflict resolution, as their status is not tied to short-term political agendas. (Open Photo: The Emir of Bauchi Alh. Dr Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu during the The Bauchi Durbar Festival. Shutterstock/Abdullahi Abubakar Jajere)

François Misser