US and West African military chaplains — The West Africa Religious Affairs Symposium (WARAS) brought together military religious leaders from ten African countries and the United States in Accra, Ghana, from July 14 to 16, 2026. The event, attended by figures such as Colonel Kevin Forrester and Sergeant-Major Herinah Asaah from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), focused on strengthening cooperation in spiritual support for armed forces and enhancing the resilience and cohesion of troops across the region.

Spiritual Support as a Strategic Asset

During an online press briefing on July 15, Colonel Forrester emphasized the growing complexity of security challenges in West Africa. He argued that effective responses require not only operational capabilities but also attention to the moral and spiritual dimensions of military life. Forrester described the symposium as a unique opportunity for dialogue and experience-sharing, aiming to build sustainable cooperation among military chaplaincy services. He stressed that religion remains a powerful force shaping societies across Africa, and that chaplains play a vital role at the intersection of faith, culture, and operational realities.

Forrester was clear that the initiative does not seek to impose American models on African partners. Instead, he highlighted the value of religious diversity, pointing to collaboration among imams, Catholic priests, and Protestant leaders as evidence of pluralism in action. “The real victory here is that we do this together,” he said, underlining the shared commitment to the spiritual well-being of soldiers.

Adapting Chaplaincy to Modern Challenges

Sergeant-Major Asaah noted that the role of military chaplains is evolving rapidly. He explained that chaplaincy is moving beyond traditional, office-based support to become more mobile and present in both physical and digital spaces. This shift is driven by new pressures facing young soldiers, including psychological stress, long deployments, and the impact of social media and digital misinformation. Asaah argued that effective spiritual support now requires chaplains to proactively engage with troops, understand their environments, and address problems before they escalate.

Distance and limited infrastructure across vast African territories present significant challenges for chaplains. Forrester acknowledged these obstacles but also highlighted innovative solutions developed by African partners, such as digital chaplaincy tools and secure online platforms that maintain confidential contact with remote units. These adaptations, he said, demonstrate that African militaries are not merely recipients of foreign expertise but are also generating new approaches to supporting their personnel.

Both Forrester and Asaah stressed that ethical preparation and emotional resilience must be embedded in military training before deployment. This includes equipping soldiers and their families with cognitive, emotional, and spiritual tools to face the demands of service. The symposium in Accra marks a significant step in building a shared framework for religious affairs in military contexts, with the goal of reinforcing both operational effectiveness and human dignity within the armed forces of West Africa and their international partners.