Roundtable Meeting of April 7, 2026, with the Khalife General of Bambilor
Spiritual Diplomacy and International Peace
As part of the visit to France of Cheikh Thierno Amadou Ba, Khalife General of Bambilor (Senegal), and his delegation, a series of meetings was organized in Paris from April 7 to 10, 2026, under the coordination of the French chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), represented by its Vice President, Mr. Patrick Jouan.
The main event took place on April 7 at the Espace Barrault, the Paris headquarters of the UPF. Following in-depth discussions between the leaders of both organizations, the conference brought together more than 80 participants in person and around twenty online attendees. Discussions focused on the limitations of traditional political diplomacy in addressing international conflicts and on the need to promote a “spiritual diplomacy” grounded in moral and ethical values capable of complementing political action.
Mr. Jacques Marion, President of the Europe–Middle East chapter of the Universal Peace Federation, opened the meeting by emphasizing that lasting peace cannot rely solely on political agreements. According to him, spiritual leaders must work alongside political decision-makers in order to bring an ethical dimension to international relations. He recalled a proposal made at the United Nations in 2000 by the UPF founders advocating the establishment of a bicameral structure within the international institution, including a chamber of spiritual and cultural leaders alongside representatives of member states.
Cheikh Ahmadou Ba, President of the Council of Imams of France, stressed the complementary roles of religion and politics in conflict prevention. He defined spiritual diplomacy as the mobilization of consciences around values such as justice, forgiveness, and respect for human dignity. Several examples of religious mediation were mentioned, including the Vatican’s role between Cuba and the United States, the Human Fraternity Document signed in Abu Dhabi, as well as various dialogue initiatives carried out in Senegal and other African countries.
The keynote address by Cheikh Thierno Amadou Ba developed the idea that genuine peace cannot be founded solely on power relations or formal agreements. In his view, the reconciliation of consciences must precede the reconciliation of peoples. He presented spiritual diplomacy as a preventive effort aimed at transforming mindsets and promoting interreligious dialogue. He also referred to several international initiatives, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Vatican.
Two major directions emerged from the discussions: the need to train religious diplomats and the integration of spiritual diplomacy within major international institutions. In this context, the Khalife announced the creation in Bambilor of a “Scientific Center for Religious Diplomacy.”
The Ambassador of Senegal to Paris, His Excellency Baye Moctar Diop, praised the growing role of spiritual authorities in conflict mediation, recalling that peace agreements remain fragile when they are not grounded in sincerity and moral commitment on the part of the stakeholders involved. The discussions also highlighted the Senegalese model of religious coexistence and intercultural dialogue.
The conference concluded with the presentation to Cheikh Thierno Amadou Ba of the title of Ambassador for Peace, awarded by the Universal Peace Federation. All the speakers conveyed a common message: world peace requires not only the action of states, but also a spiritual diplomacy based on listening, mutual respect, and the reconciliation of consciences.
During his stay in Paris, the delegation of the Khalife General of Bambilor also took part, alongside representatives of the UPF, in several institutional and academic meetings, including a visit with the authorities of the Grand Mosque of Paris, a forum at the Academy of Geopolitics in Paris, as well as meetings at the Embassies of Senegal in France and at UNESCO. This week of exchanges provided an opportunity to deepen dialogue and explore several cooperation projects centered on a shared vision: that of a spiritual diplomacy capable of providing lasting solutions to contemporary conflicts.