Abstract
There has been increasing debate within Africa's political spectrum with regards to the increasing role of religion in interstate politics. One cannot ignore the influence of religion in Africa's socioeconomic and political landscape. This chapter examines the role, growth and influence of religion in the relations of African countries in a post-colonial era. A qualitative research approach is adopted with secondary data collected through a thorough review of the literature. From the onset, it is clear that religion is integral to the foreign policy agenda of African states. At the same time', the use of religion as a soft power tool has gained momentum in Africa, often resulting in it being used as a competitive tool to achieve the interests of a nation-state. However, the fusion of religion and politics has also brought with it challenges such as cross-boundary conflicts which have religious connotations attached to them. While religion is an integral part of everyday life in Africa, the problems associated with its practice need to be given due consideration to ensure that religion plays a constructive role in Africa's development rather than contribute to conflict and violence.