The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, citing the rising humanitarian crisis affecting women and children.
The Sultan also urged world powers to cancel debts owed by low-income countries, arguing that the move would help address global economic inequality and promote sustainable development.
He made the call on Tuesday during a one-day World Peace Council (WPC) meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, according to a statement by Dr. Danladi Bako, Kogunan Sokoto.
Abubakar, who is the Co-President of the Religion for Peace wing of the WPC, expressed deep concern over the Gaza conflict, noting that, according to the World Health Organization, many women and children are starving to death, with casualties increasing daily.
On the issue of sovereign debts, the Sultan highlighted the crippling impact of debt burdens on developing economies, stating that debt cancellation would help eliminate wealth imbalances, correct exploitative historical policies, and support global poverty reduction through equitable wealth redistribution.
The WPC, a global peace and disarmament advocacy organization, promotes non-alignment, anti-imperialism, and international solidarity. It works with governments, civil society groups, and religious leaders to push for global peace, social justice, environmental sustainability, and national independence.
Held every five years, the Council’s previous meeting took place in Lindau, Germany. The 2025 session in Istanbul hosted over 60 countries, featuring diverse religious representatives including Muslims, Catholics, Anglicans, Jews, Hindus, Baháʼís, and members of the Orthodox Coptic Church.
In his remarks, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople called for a “global alliance of conscience” to restore core value systems embedded in all religions — values he described as essential to global peace and harmony.
Two key sessions of the conference focused on:
The debt burden on low-income countries
The intersection of faith, dignity, and artificial intelligence, and how AI may affect cultures and religious values.
Both sessions witnessed robust contributions from scholars, technocrats, gender advocates, religious leaders, and traditional rulers.
The conference ended with a nine-point resolution, read by Dr. Francis Kuria, Secretary-General of the Council. The resolution unanimously called on world leaders to halt the genocide in Gaza immediately.
The next General Assembly of the World Peace Council will take place in Abu Dhabi in 2030.
