wfn.org | AACC President Dandala Calls for Peace in Africa

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

All Africa Conference of Churches

Our Ref:

PRESS RELEASE

Clarion Call For Peace In Africa

NAIROBI (LWF) March 27 - Africa's religious leaders of diverse faiths have 
been urged to influence their respective governments to appreciate that the 
continent needs leaders who genuinely embrace peace and are focused on 
uniting communities.

The general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, Rev Dr H. 
Mvume Dandala, stressed here today that it was imperative to nurture 
leaders who genuinely represent, uphold and reflect the true expression of 
collective peace to the communities.

Rev Dandala was giving the opening statement during the three-day 
Interfaith Regional Peace Summit for Horn of Africa, East and Central Africa.

"Peace concerns everyone. Its search must therefore involve all. Africa 
needs peace builders than any other continent presently," he noted.

The first task of religious leaders, he said, was to consolidate interfaith 
harmony which would help create a culture of dialogue among communities of 
different faiths.

Acknowledging that dialogues helps move communities from confrontation to 
reconciliation, the AACC official noted: "Our success in building 
interfaith harmony would translate into Africa's contribution to global 
peace in a world that is tearing apart from religiously motivated wars".

He further pointed out that Africa was the most religiously diverse 
continent in the world and that every religious tradition in the world 
tended to have its subsidiary in Africa in addition to the homegrown 
traditional religions.

He said: "Since most people of Africa have a religious identity, it means 
that religious leaders, backed by their special relationships with the 
people can lead the people to start by acting at least humanly and sharing 
values of peace".

Rev Dandala told participants that interfaith peace initiative also demands 
mutual respect for each other's faith. "It calls for more than tolerance, 
compassion, honesty and selflessness. We have to build trust between us".

He regretted that religious leaders sometime fail to appreciate the 
profound gift they could offer. As a result, he added, "Our worship and 
activities do not always highlight the agency of mobilizing, enriching and 
consolidating the spirit of people of peace".

In citing exemplary actions of peace-seeking religious leaders, Rev Dandala 
paid tribute to Bishop Macleord Baker Ocholla II of Northern Uganda who 
continues to champion peace, forgiveness and reconciliation even after 
members of his family were killed by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army.

"He should be bitter and seek revenge, instead, he has always been on the 
frontline to champion the cause for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. 
I salute you brother," the AACC official said.

He further expressed gratitude that the Youth Peace Training Manual, an 
AACC peace project, had been useful to the interfaith network especially 
the Interfaith Youth Peace Initiative in Africa.

By Noel Okoth
AIMS Media for LWF