wfn.org | ACNS - BULLETIN No. 41/02 October 21, 2002 (b)

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

AANA Bulletin is an ecumenical initiative to highlight all endeavours and 
experiences of Christians and the people of Africa.  AANA Bulletin is 
published weekly and, together with the French Edition - Bulletin APTA - is 
also available through e-mail.	For editorial and subscription details, 
please contact: 

AANA Bulletin	: Acting Editor - Mitch Odero		
Bulletin APTA: Edition en frangais, ridacteur intirimaire : Sylvie Alemba

All Africa News Agency
P.O. BOX 66878 NAIROBI, KENYA
TEL : (254 2) 442215, 440224 ; FAX : (254 2) 445847/443241
E-mail : aanaapta@insightkenya.com

Sediment Pile-UP Threatens Sustainability Of Dams

NAIROBI (AANA) October 21- Most of Africa's dams are on the verge 
of   being dismantled due to heavy sediment filling, Kenya's 
internationally re-known scientist, Prof Thomas Odhiambo told a regional 
conference for water experts, held here during October 7-9.

  Of Africa's 75,000 dams, 200 have either been dismantled while a few 
thousands are being considered for dismantling because of they are 
inoperable due to sediment filling, Odhiambo informed told delegates from 
the ten member states of the Nile River Basin.

Comprising water experts from Nile Basin, international experts, external 
agencies, NGOs and the private sector, the conference experts deliberated 
on the theme: "The Comprehensive Water Resources Development of the Nile 
Basin".

The delegates represented the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, Egypt, 
Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda..

Many large-scale drip-irrigation systems were put into operation in 1960s. 
Although their water-conservation efficiency has been proved beyond doubt, 
less than one percent of the world's irrigated lands employ this method. 
Its use has increased 28-fold since the mid-1970s, Odhiambo said.

"In areas where excessive withdrawals from aquifers and rivers have reached 
worrisome levels, such as in Western United States and in South Africa, the 
first claimant on new water resources has become the environmental uses of 
water" he noted in a presentation entitled, Coordination of Nile 
Basin-wide Research Approaches.

Odhiambo, who is currently the President of the African Academy of Sciences 
AAS, recommended that "the Nile Basin initiative needs to dig deep into 
their own indigenous knowledge base and cultural history(this) would 
constitute the best science foundation for the sustainable management and 
utilization of the Nile Basin freshwater resources".

There is no on-the-shelf successful innovative technology put there, he 
stressed. The conference reviewed water resources management strategies and 
action programmes in the Nile Basin countries within the context of 
sustainable utilization of the resources and integrated Nile Basin
development.

The delegates also deliberated on specific topics related to the 
development of the Nile Basin. They further reviewed the progress and 
achievement of the previous Nile 2002 conference and charted out plans for 
the future conferences.

Reported by Osman Njuguna

Sudan Govt, Rebel Forces Undertake To End Hostility

MACHAKOS (AANA) October 21 - Sudanese peace talks resumed on a new note 
here, a day after the Sudanese government and rebel movements signed a 
cease-fire agreement aimed at ending fighting while negotiations are still 
in progress.

The temporary deal which was sealed on October 15 covers all parts of Sudan 
and took effect on October 17. "It will last for as long as the talks are 
on, which could be until the end of the year," Kenya's envoy to the talks, 
Lazaro Sumbeiywo, said.

Sources close to the talks said this was the first time for the two warring 
parties to sign an agreement to end the hostility. The Sudanese Embassy in 
Nairobi confirmed that the government had signed the deal and was expected 
to issue an official statement.

The talks which are being held under the auspices of IGAD are expected to 
last five weeks but mediators say they could be extended to the end of the 
year. They are aimed at ending the 19-year civil war that has claimed over 
two million lives and displaced close to 500,000 people.

The Sudanese government pulled out of the second phase of talks early last 
month when SPLM/A captured the key southern garrison town of Torit, causing 
an increase in fighting in Southern Sudan. However, SPLM/A carried out a 
tactical withdrawal of its forces on October 8 from the town.

"It is worth noting that it took the government of Sudan 37 days to 
re-occupy Torit at a very high cost in terms of manpower and destruction of 
military equipment. The SPLA captured substantial war equipment from the 
enemy with no loss on our side," said a statement released to journalists 
and signed by Dr Samson Kwaje, the SPLM/A official spokesman.

The statement further noted that the forces that fought SPLA included the 
government's regular army, People Defence Forces PDF, Mujahidiin (holy 
warriors), the Lords Resistance Army LRA from Uganda and various militia 
groups including the Equitoria Defence Force EDF.

"These irregular treacherous groups played a major role in the 
re-occupation of Torit and the destruction of the town," the statement 
further said.

The first phase of the peace talks that ended in July were successful, with 
the two sides signing a peace protocol that agreed on self determination 
for the people of Southern Sudan. The protocol underlined that Islamic 
Sharia law should not be applicable in the South, where majority of the 
people practise Christianity.

Reported by Joyce Mulama

INTER-FAITH  SUMMIT

Leaders In Procession, Prayers To Launch Peace Meeting

BENONI, South Africa/GENEVA (AANA) October 21 - A historic one-week 
conference of religious leaders from different faith communities in Africa 
opened in South Africa on October 14 with a colourful procession by 
delegations from different faith communities drawn from all over the 
continent.

Representatives of African Traditional Religion, Baha'i  faith , Buddhism, 
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism wearing their robes and symbols 
of authority, observed a silent procession at the Kopanong Hotel and 
Conference Center, Benoni, near Johannesburg, launching a first Inter-Faith 
Peace Summit in Africa.

The October 14-19 conference was organized by the Lutheran World Federation 
LWF and hosted by the National Religious Leaders' Forum of South Africa 
NRLFSA.  Religious delegations are drawn from 21 African countries, and 
observers as well as resource persons from Finland, the United States and 
Sweden.

After the procession, prayers and scriptures/holy writings during plenary 
session were offered by representatives of the respective faith traditions. 
They  were Sheikh Abu Bakaar Conteh (Islam, Sierra Leone), Ntate Kgalushi 
Koka (African Traditional Religion, South Africa), Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris 
(Judaism, South Africa), Ms Lucretia Warren (Baha'i faith, Botswana), Roman 
Catholic Cardinal Wilfrid Napier (Christianity, South Afria), Methodist 
Prelate Sunday Mbang (Christianity, Nigeria) and Peter Just (Buddhism, 
South Africa).

In her address to the Summit participants, the Ambassador of Finland to 
South Africa, Ms Kirsti Lintonen stressed the important role played by 
churches and other religious communities in securing and building peace. 
"People listen to you. You have an authority based on faith and word, 
ethics and morality".

She noted that Africa has been suffering from numerous armed conflicts but 
also recognized hopeful signs of efforts to forge peace. Lintonen mentioned 
the new African Union and New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD, 
as a new commitment by Africa itself to lift its peoples from poverty and 
conflict.

"We are conscious of this summit being the first of its kind on the 
continent of Africa,"  said the Rt Rev	Mvume Dandala, Presiding Bishop of 
the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and President of the South African 
Council of Churches.

"We receive you, not because we have much to offer, except the pain of 
violent conflict that we experienced in this country in the years 
1993-1995, and the courage of simple men and women in standing up for 
peace," he added.

"The religious communities in South Africa stood together in the struggle 
against apartheid.  In the dawn of democracy they stood together to help 
defeat violence in our beautiful land

"This first hand experience of pain and suffering, as well as the knowledge 
that when men and women stand in unity, violent conflict can be displaced 
by peace, has instilled in us a dream of our continent.  A dream of peace 
and prosperity in Africa in our life time.

"We open our arms to receive this summit, in the hope that the seeds will 
be planted here, then monitored together by the sons and daughters of 
Africa, will be a blessing to the future of Africa and her children".

It was Dandala's hope that the summit would be a first step toward active 
inter-faith cooperation and co-existence in Africa that will play a crucial 
role in the elimination o violence and war on the continent. The Methodist 
bishop is an NRLFSA committee member.

Reported by Pauline Mumia

Govts Require Support, Patience To Resolve Conflicts

BENONI, South Africa/GENEVA(AANA) October 21 - The Deputy President of the 
Republic of South Africa, Dr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma last week called on 
religious leaders in Africa to back their governments' efforts in seeking 
solutions to conflicts on the continent.

"You are well placed to promote the embracing peace as you minister to all 
affected in conflicts - victims, perpetrators, observers and those who have 
the power to stop conflicts," Zuma told over 100 representatives of 
different  faith communities attending the Inter-Faith Peace Summit in
Africa.

The theme of the conference was "Embracing the Gift of 
Peace".  Participants represent Islamic, Buddhist, Baha'i faith, Hindu, 
Jewish and African Traditional Religion communities drawn from 21 African 
countries.

The deputy president described the summit as one of the most important 
initiatives for peace in view of the many conflicts on the African 
continent. It indicates that the faith community fully recognizes its key 
role and responsibility in fostering a culture of peace and fellowship on 
the continent, he said.

Zuma noted that the inter-faith summit takes place a few months after the 
launch of the African Union and its programmes such as the New Partnership 
for Africa's Development, NEPAD, a comprehensive initiative aimed at moving 
Africa from its development stagnation, poverty and conflicts and other 
challenges.

Calling on all Africans to play their part in bringing to an end the 
conflicts on the continent, the deputy president cited South Africa's 
involvement in the peace process in the Great Lakes region especially 
Burundi, and underlined "our strong belief that the freedom, peace and 
stability that we enjoy should extend to our sister countries on the 
continent".

The responsibility of religious leaders and communities in the midst of 
violence must be to work together to deny any religious justification to 
conflict, LWF General Secretary, Rev  Dr  Ishmael Noko told participants.

"We are called by our own traditions and cultures to build networks of 
dialogue and cooperation in order to overcome efforts to instrumentalise 
religious diversity for violent purposes," he said.

Addressing participants, Noko said the efforts of political and religious 
leaders in conflict resolution "must be complementary if peace is to be 
achievable and sustainable".

He noted that recent political efforts to promote unity, peace and 
development at sub-regional and regional levels on the continent have 
helped inspire a new atmosphere in Africa and restore hope for an "African 
Renaissance".

While recognizing ongoing inter-faith activities to promote peace in 
different parts of the continent, the LWF general secretary spoke of the 
unhealed memories on the continent.

He said the vicious cycle of violence throughout much of the history of 
African nations did not start with the era of slavery and colonialism, 
rather it was compounded by the effects of both slavery and colonialism. 
There is an "urgent need for the healing of memories" between peoples 
within Africa and outside, Noko said.

Noko expressed concern about the power of modern weapons in contemporary 
conflicts especially in Africa. He said the "small arms" - military rifles 
and automatic weapons -  are a special challenge for Africa.

Their "proliferation on the continent is incompatible with the 
proliferation of peace". Coupled with human anger and fear, anything can 
become a weapon against life.

"We are here to find ways of working together to prevent our religious 
traditions and communities from being used in anger and fear as weapons".

Speaking to journalists on October 14,	Noko, said that the Inter-Faith 
Peace Summit in Africa was long over due, as the present situation on the 
continent demands action from religious leaders.

Noko, also chairperson of the summit's steering committee said that the 
AU's recent launching with its vision to reshape the continent was 
something that religious communities were keen to get involved in by 
engaging in conflict resolution and contributing the vast religious 
resources of Africa.

He added that the summit would not be a "toothless event", but that a 
concrete plan of action would be worked out over the next few days. This 
plan of action would be taken up by delegates and adapted to the respective 
country's needs. It would be reviewed at a follow-up forum in two to three 
years' time.

Sheikh Abu Bakaar Conteh, a member of the summit's steering committee added 
that this was the opportune time for the conference and that sustainable 
peace was not possible in Africa unless religious leaders got involved. 
Conteh is a member of the Inter- Religious Council of Sierra Leone.

Responding to a question on the current situation in Zimbabwe, Noko said 
that although the land redistribution issue was valid, there were other 
concerns that still needed to be dealt with so that a comprehensive 
solution could be found for the country. This could involve religious 
leaders from both Africa and the United Kingdom playing a role.

Reported by Pauline Mumia