Thousands are expected to join Easter peace marches across Germany this year, with events planned in over 100 cities. The demonstrations, held under the slogan 'Reject war – build peace!', coincide with rising global defence budgets and ongoing conflicts. Rallies and cycling protests will take place from Thursday through Monday, with the bulk scheduled for the weekend. The Peace Cooperative Network, which organises the marches, expressed "cautiously optimistic" hopes that turnout will surpass the 40,000 participants recorded last year. Organisers are urging the German government to prioritise diplomacy, support war-affected populations, and uphold international law. They are also speaking out against worldwide rearmament and potential moves to bring back mandatory military service. A key highlight is the three-day Rhine-Ruhr Easter march, starting Saturday and stretching from Duisburg to Dortmund in western Germany.
The Peace Cooperative Network's push for diplomacy gains traction as turnout projections rise, yet peace movements in Europe operate in a vastly different political climate than Nigeria's own security reality. While Germans march against war from a position of relative safety, the idea of mass civic mobilisation shaping national security policy remains distant in Nigeria. This year's marches reflect sustained civic engagement in Western democracies, where public dissent can openly challenge state military choices.
