WCC NEWS: Churches are called to be peacemakers in Africa

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World Council of Churches - News

CHURCHES ARE CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS IN AFRICA

For immediate release: 03 February 2012

Amidst increasing security issues in several African countries plagued
by violence, political turmoil, religious intolerance and lack of
democratic governance, churches are called to engage in peace-building,
said African church leaders in a presentation on “Burning issues of
insecurity in Africa” at a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation
in Kigali, Rwanda.

The consultation was organized by the WCC Commission of the Churches on
International Affairs (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=36fe56b5dbd7a73e960d ) (CCIA) and the 
All Africa
Conference of Churches (AACC). Participants addressed the theme, “Peace
and Security in Africa: Ecumenical Responses” from 28 January to 1
February.

The church leaders presented case studies from Africa demonstrating the
increase in conflicts and human rights violations in countries like
Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

They showed how people in these countries are living in conditions of
extreme vulnerability. In this situation, they stressed the need for
stronger peace and reconciliation engagement by the ecumenical family.

“Millions of Somalis continue to suffer. Helping them is increasingly
difficult due to escalation of violence and polarization of both Somali
and international actors,” said Dr Agnes Abuom, member of the WCC
Executive Committee from Kenya and ecumenical accompanier of AACC’s
special mission for peace-building in the Horn of Africa.

“A group of ecumenical actors with a long history of engagement in
peace-building have come together under the AACC to search new ways out of
the predicament posed by the current situation in Somalia,” said Abuom.

Rev. Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf, general secretary of the Christian Council of
Nigeria, expressed concern over the security situation in his country.

“The security of the people of Nigeria has never been so dangerous, and
stretched to a limit of extreme anxiety, as we are experiencing right
now,” he said.

“The armed forces were considered points of safety for the citizens in
our country at the time of violence and crises. But today even the
military barracks are under attack from extremist forces and bandits,
increasing violence and insecurity in Nigeria,” Yusuf added.

Joy Kwaje, member of the Senate of the South Sudan, thanked African
churches and the global ecumenical movement for accompanying the people of
Sudan, while she shared her perspective on security challenges.

“Since the independence of South Sudan in July 2011, competition among
foreign companies to exploit the wealth and resources of the country has
increased,” Kwaje pointed out.
However, she said that “the people of Sudan need peace and security. They
need a stable political situation that will ensure harmony among various
communities.”

“Tens of thousands of Southerners who were born and brought up in South
Sudan but forced to live outside the country for years are now returning
to a new country, which they know nothing about,” said Kwaje.

“The safety and security of all these people need to be ensured. In this,
the international community should continue to play a vital role for
peace-building,” she added.

Enhancing efforts for peace

Itayi Ndudzo, member of the WCC Central Committee from Zimbabwe, talked
about his country’s security situation. He described it as “relatively
calm” now; however, a political crisis following the general elections,
he says, can be expected.

“Zimbabwe needs political will and respect for human rights to address
the pressing concerns of people to reduce organized violence and
torture,” said Ndudzo.

“Churches and the ecumenical community should help Zimbabwe foster a
culture of peace and nonviolence, tolerance and respect for human
rights,” he added.

Rev. Dr Andre Karamaga, general secretary of the AACC, shed light on the
significant role played by the African churches in their quest for peace.

“Realizing the importance of the role of African churches to protect,
respect and uphold the dignity of all Africans irrespective of their
ethnic or religious identities, the churches in Africa are fully
committed,” said Karamaga.

He said that African churches will initiate a comprehensive ecumenical
accompaniment programme to promote peace, security and dignity in the
region.

“As part of this ecumenical commitment, the AACC has already appointed an
ecumenical accompanier for Zimbabwe. Similar initiatives will develop in
future that will help with facilitating capacity building for peace
initiatives by African churches,” said Karamaga.

Anna Alvazzi del Frate, director of Small Arms Survey (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=09a34c5a62dba7761ba5 ) in Geneva, spoke 
about the proliferation
and trade of small arms and light weapons in Africa.

“Reducing the availability and use of small arms in conflict-affected
areas as well as in post-conflict situations has become increasingly
important to achieve the goals of peace, security and development in
Africa,” she said.

As a follow-up to the consultation, a training of trainers on “Healing of
Memories” is now being held, from 1 to 3 February, in Kigali.

Dr Manoj Kurian, the WCC programme executive for Health and Healing
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=533dd20406a9220f1412 ),
coordinating the training, said that, “wars, repressive regimes and
human rights abuses inflict emotional and psychological wounds on
individuals and communities.”

“In these circumstances, churches need to consolidate their efforts to
provide spiritual accompaniment that can help in overcoming conflicts and
violence,” he said.

“A report on ‘peace and security in the emerging global context’
based on the experiences of regional consultations with focus on Asia,
Africa, and Latin America will be presented at the next CCIA meeting. This
meeting will be held in China in June this year”, said Dr Mathews George
Chunakara, director of the CCIA.

Read also:

African churches address peace and security issues (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=2c108ce99fdb4053a9d9
) (WCC press release of 31 January 2012)

WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=998fa23e305b26942108 )

Ecumenical Arms Trade Treaty Campaign (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=1f63a6786455671bdb3b )

WCC member churches in Africa (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=35144bc0a78978f0b87f )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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