African
Religious Leaders Firm on Engaging Politicians in Conflict Resolution Initiatives
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA, 18 October 2002 (LWI) * A unique conference of leaders from religious communities across Africa today unveiled an inter-faith peace declaration, affirming a joint commitment to bring about peace and prevent violent conflict through genuine inter-faith dialogue and intervention in different parts of the continent.
Religious leaders and inter-faith groups (IFGs) from 21 African
countries at the first Inter-Faith Peace Summit in Africa, from left: Rev.
Dr. Ishmael Noko (LWF General Secretary), Ntate Kgalushi Koka, South Africa
(African Traditional Religion), Bishop Antonious Markos, South Africa
(Coptic Orthodox Church) and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, South Africa (Roman
Catholic Church). ©
"There can be no future for Africa unless faith communities work together to promote co-existence," the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) said, when he launched "The Johannesburg Inter-Faith Declaration * Embracing the Gift of Peace," during a press conference co-chaired by Ms Lucretia Warren from Botswana, representing the Baha'i Faith.
Noko described the summit and its declaration as unique and a landmark in that this is the first time that representatives of different religions on the African continent had jointly stated their resolve to actively engage in promoting peace in a region rife with conflict and violence. "[For the first time], we witnessed different religious communities sit in one place and pray together. We did not go to individual places for our respective prayers, we jointly participated in the prayer offered by a different group each day," Nko said of the October 14-19 Inter-Faith Peace Summit in Africa taking place at the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Center in Benoni near Johannesburg.
The over 100 delegates drawn from 21 African countries adopted the declaration by consensus on October 17. The representatives from the African Traditional Religion, Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism committed themselves to embrace the vision of an "African renaissance," expressed in a new spirit for unity and development.
The summit provided an opportunity for people of different faith traditions to listen to each other, share their different understandings on common issues and "expose their failures without being defensive," Noko said. They would work for inter-religious understanding through a continuous process of genuine inter-faith encounter, discussion, and consultation, with the aim to promote respect for each other's religious traditions and refrain from denigrating them. An action plan based on the declaration will be worked out. The follow-up process will be translated in the respective contexts.
Warren stressed that religion is the most important force for transformation. Answering a question about the expected reactions to the summit's declaration she responded, "Who does not desire peace?" Noko noted that even those who sell small arms want peace.
Based on the inter-faith summit commitments, Noko said he was optimistic that Africa's religious leaders can use their authority to press the continent's politicians to take the path of peace rather than that of war. In the declaration, faith communities said they will hold politicians accountable for their promises and actions by actively engaging them in dialogue with regard to positive initiatives towards conflict resolution, the promotion of peace and justice, and sustaining democratic institutions such as those envisioned in the creation of the African Union.
Summit participants witnessed testimonies from victims of violence including their painful expriences and willingness to forgive and be part of the peace building process. They acknowledged the great risks taken by inter-faith groups working for reconciliation in such areas. "The obstacles they have encountered and success they have achieved cannot go unrecognized. We pray that others may join," so that together we can move Africa on the path of peace and development."
But participants also acknowledged that religious leaders and communities have at times failed to promote peace. They noted they have sometimes been intolerant of each other's beliefs and "allowed ourselves and our religious traditions to be manipulated for purposes that do not reflect our true beliefs."
"We have sometimes been arrogant in our behavior towards each other, * failed to speak and act against division, injustice, degradation of human dignity, corruption, poverty, disregard for rule of law, and dictatorial leadership which are causes of violence and untold suffering in our continent." They said they would equip themselves with the practical mediation skills necessary to resolve conflicts within and between their communities, and seek to instill a spirituality that is needed for economic and social transformation and emancipation.
Peace is possible in Africa, participants in the first continental inter-faith peace summit affirmed in the commitments inspired by their respective traditions and by the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).
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