The command chaplain of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Kevin Forrester, has described spiritual readiness as a foundational pillar of military success.

Mr Forrester made the remark at the launch of the West African Religious Affairs Symposium (WARAS) in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday.

He said the timing of the symposium was critical because partner forces were operating in increasingly complex and high-stress security environments.

“Across Africa, there is not a single country where religion is not a significant factor influencing the people and the culture. In the military, we call this a centre of gravity. Regional stability and prosperity require institutional strength, ethical practice, and the moral foundation that religious traditions provide,” Mr Forrester said.

He said the U.S. was not at the symposium to impose its own model, but had convened the event because it respected the diverse and pluralistic nature of the partner nations.

“When you see a Muslim chaplain and a Catholic priest collaborating side by side to support a unit, that isn’t just religious tolerance, it is operational strength. Our shared mission is building resilience for our troops,” Mr Forrester said.

He said partnering with West African partners would help address moral injury and the complexities of theodicy, build mutual capacity for religious support, and foster strong leadership.

The USAFRICOM command chaplain added that the event would also help strengthen cooperation and interoperability across the region, noting that lasting stability required nations to work together militarily, culturally, economically, and spiritually.

Also, the religious affairs senior enlisted leader at USAFRICOM, Herinah Asaah, said the purpose of the symposium was to ensure that the high-level framework developed during the event reached and protected the youngest service members and their families across the participating formations.

Mr Asaah stated, “Having been born in Cameroon, I understand firsthand the profound nuances of faith or spirituality across West Africa. In this region, religion and spirituality aren’t just a weekend practice.”

“It is interwoven into the very fabric of daily life, culture and identity. You cannot build resilience in a West African military force, or any military force for that matter, without deeply understanding that cultural reality. To be truly spiritual, to build true spiritual resilience, our chaplains and religious affairs specialists must do a deep dive into the unique cultural and religious nuances of each country before our troops hit the ground.”

WARAS, a three-day event, was co-hosted by USAFRICOM and the Ghanaian Defence Force to strengthen alliances in West Africa.