wfn.org | AACC - Fact Finding Mission to Burundi

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ALL AFRICA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES

CONFERENCE DES EGLISES DE TOUTE LAFRIQUE

www.aacc-ceta.org	Tel: 254 - 20 - 4441483, 4441338/9 7 Fax: 254 - 20- 
4443241, 4445835 7 Email: secretariat@aacc-ceta.org

General Secretariat: Waiyaki Way, P.O. Box 14205 , 00800 Westlands, 
Nairobi, Kenya

PRESS RESLEASE

On 15th August 2004, more than 160 persons, mostly Congolese civilians of 
whom the majority were innocent displaced women and children were murdered 
in cold blood at refugee camps in Burundi.  The all Africa Conference of 
Churches and the member Churches are deeply saddened by these events. Two 
months ago the AACC led an ecumenical pastoral team comprising of the heads 
of Churches from Burundi and the World council of Churches. Only recently 
through the Fellowship of Churches and	Councils in the great Lakes and 
Horn of Africa , the AACC also sent a fact finding mission to Burundi .

The prevailing situation in Burundi requires that institutions of democracy 
be established with a profound sense of autonomy from the forces of 
ethnicity that only lead to conflict. The problem of influx of refugees 
from the DRC and how to meet their needs as a matter of humanitarian 
concern must faced and solved immediately.  The All Africa Conference of 
Churches in solidarity with the World Council of Churches decade to 
Overcome Violence calls upon the international community to mobilize 
resources in order to pre-empt any further escalation of violence that may 
inhibit the transition to democracy in Burundi. It is evident that the 
people of Burundi still live with the memories of atrocities committed 
since the assassination of the head of state in 1993.

Therefore there is an urgent need to equip the Churches in the great Lakes 
region to utilize their unique role and opportunity to be actively involved 
in the peace process and nation building. The challenge therefore is to 
establish a sustainable forum i.e. The Great Lakes Ecumenical Forum (GLEF) 
that brings together the civil society, ecumenical partners and other 
stakeholders in the region. This will be a creative ecumenical instrument 
on issues pertaining to sustainability of peace initiatives in the region. 
With the facilitation of AACC and WCC, the churches shall work towards the 
establishment and sustenance of instruments of negotiation and dialogue to 
enhance peace with security in the whole region.

Rev Dr Mvume Dandala

General Secretary  All Africa Conference of Churches.