Peace building and youth against religious violence extremism in Unguja

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania with an estimated population of 1.3 million from 2012 population and census of Tanzania. It is a semi-autonomous state within the United Republic of Tanzania that elects  its own president  and  legislature.  Zanzibar  law overall  is governed by the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, which grants rights to freedom of association and of religion, cultural, and political pluralism. But Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim  (2010  est.),  and  Islam  is  the  dominant  and  mostpracticed religion in the Island. 

Religious freedom is understood to be necessary for peace, prosperity, and democracy, yet in Zanzibar and the Coastal Region of Tanzania, peace, prosperity, and democracy are decreasing because of inter-religious conflict. In the recent past years, religious types of conflicts involving

Christians and Muslims have taken place. These have included acid violent attacks, religious, Christian’s murder, destruction and burning of properties, accusations of favoritism, religious discrimination, religious riots, and disputes about religious vs. national identity. International Religious Freedom Reports indicates several incidence of attack targeting Christian religious leaders has been taking place Zanzibar region. 

This  policy  brief  recommends  that  community  and  youth  leaders  should  play  the  role  of education in conflict-affected religions because has received increased attention during the past decade because of its impact on the achievement of the education-related Millennium Development Goals. These goals will only be achieved through successfully accessing youth in conflict-affected contexts, who are among the hardest to reach and transform transition justice and reconciliation.