The I.F.I.C. (Institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne) in Bamako, established in 2007 by the Missionaries of Africa, is celebrating its seventeenth anniversary this academic year. The Institute, which was separated from the PISAI to be closer to the Islamic context in Africa, is a concrete manifestation of the dynamism and growing interest of our Society in bringing together and sharing common values between religions: Christianity and Islam, as well as traditional African religions (RTA). The primary mission and vocation of the I.F.I.C. is to promote peace through Islamic-Christian dialogue in particular and inter-religious dialogue in general. This mission is a burning issue in today’s world on our continent, marked by the rise of intolerance of all kinds against a backdrop of appalling violence. The I.F.I.C., more than in the past, is called upon and even challenged to play this noble role of promoter and vector of a culture of peace between believers and all men and women of goodwill. In the words of its students, with its international and ecumenical outlook, the I.F.I.C. “brings to life the experience of a pastoral laboratory”, is “a breeding ground for peacemakers”, “a laboratory for inter-religious encounters”, “a civic institute” and “provides apostles of human brotherhood”.
As a pastoral institute, the I.F.I.C plays a crucial role in serving the Churches of Africa, Catholic and Protestant, Evangelical, Charismatic, Pentecostal, etc., it offers this service through an eight-month academic programme (from October to June). The centre is based in Bamako, Mali, and serves the French-speaking part of Africa and beyond. Bamako was preferred for two significant reasons: firstly, Islam is deeply rooted in Mali; secondly, despite its long history, its conviviality with other religions (especially the RTAs and Christianity) has demonstrated that inter-religious dialogue is indeed possible. Moreover, the upsurge in Islamic extremism in the Sahel underlines that IFIC’s presence in Bamako is an important opportunity for the missionary pastoral ministry of the Churches to promote peaceful coexistence through inter-religious dialogue.
The course at IFIC is open to all Christians, especially those with experience as Christian or pastoral work with Muslims. It is designed to help them review this experience from the perspective of a deeper knowledge of Islam and to deepen it through reflection based on the basic tenets of the faith. The course is structured around two themes: firstly, an objective presentation of Islam based on its doctrinal foundations and the realities experienced by Muslims, and secondly, a Christian pastoral reflection on Islam and the prospects for Christian communities in Muslim environments. By the time they have completed the course, participants will come to appreciate the extent to which dialogue between brothers and sisters is a prophetic way of proclaiming the Gospel and an ineluctable contribution to the building of the Kingdom of God.
Over the years, IFIC has formed 177 dialogue facilitators sent by Churches and congregations from several countries and independent students. The IFIC has remained a tenant over the years. It is a tenant of the CFR (Centre Foi et Rencontre), which rents a course room. What’s more, it does not have a structure to accommodate students. They live in presbyteries or religious communities. The Missionaries of Africa province is working hard to find the funds needed to build a suitable environment for this training.
The IFC formation programme is an invitation to social cohesion, making its own the declaration made by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyeb, in Fraternité Humaine: “adopt the culture of dialogue as a path; common collaboration as a guideline; reciprocal knowledge as a method and criterion”.
