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Congo (Kinshasa): Regional Church Statement
Congo (Kinshasa): Regional Church Statement
Date distributed (ymd): 981005
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Central Africa
Issue Areas: +political/rights+ +security/peace+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains a statement on the crisis in Congo (Kinshasa) from
a meeting of Southern and Central African church representatives on September
7-10, 1998. It was distributed on October 1, 1998 by the Ecumenical Documentation
and Information Centre for Eastern and Southern Africa (EDICESA), e-mail:
[email protected].
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE DRC CRISIS
At an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) held in Lusaka, Zambia from September 7-10, 1998, the churches
and ecumenical organisations in Southern Africa and Great Lakes region
called on invaders in the DRC to withdraw immediately and allow the people
of this country to sort out their problems peacefully.
The crisis, featuring the DRC government and SADC allied troops on one
side, and Congolese rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda on the other,
was the subjected of the three day meeting organised by the Fellowship
of Christian Councils in Eastern and Southern Africa (FOCCESA), and the
All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in collaboration with American
Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The churches and ecumenical movements -- realising the potential of
the crisis engulfing the greater Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and Great Lakes regions -- vehemently opposed the resolution of
the conflict in the Congo through military means, and pointed out possible
ways to a negotiated settlement.
The churches and ecumenical organisations expressed concern that failure
to immediately resolve the DRC conflict in a peaceful way, would result
in a long war in the region at the expense of reconstruction and economic
development.
Furthermore the conflict had the potential of dividing the region which
is historically known for its solidarity actions towards one another.
"We appeal to the Churches and other faiths communities, the political
leadership and the people of the DRC to do everything in their power to
bring an immediate end to the war, to embark on a process of reconciliation
through dialogue ....." said the participants in their final communique.
The meeting was attended by more than 25 participants who critically
analysed the conflict in the DRC and its implications on the wider region
of SADC and Great Lakes and drew up a plan of action to solve the conflict
in a non-violent manner.
The meeting was opened by Rev Violet Sampa-Bredt who wears a number
of hats, including that of FOCCESA chairperson, AACC vice president for
Southern Africa and General Secretary of the host Christian Council of
Zambia (CCZ).
Rev Sampa-Bredt urged participants to engage churches, political leaders,
national, regional and international organisations in their search for
lasting peace in the DRC.
She expressed disappointment that efforts to find peace up and until
the Lusaka meeting had excluded religious leaders and movements who could
offer a Christian solution to compliment the political solution sought
by political leaders in SADC, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organisation
of African Unity (OAU).
"We pray earnestly that these political initiatives may help resolve
this conflict. But a political solution alone cannot guarantee a lasting
solution," said the FOCCESA chairperson.
The churches and ecumenical organisations meeting took place following
and parallel to some political initiatives and consultations at the levels
of SADC, OAU and NAM.
Although the primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss the crisis
in the DRC, the participants found time to share information on the troubled
spots of Angola, which has been fighting a rebellion since 1975 and Lesotho
which has lately been a conflict zone following opposition parties' dispute
of the May 1998 general election results.
Presenting a background paper, Rev. Daniel Ntoni-Nzinga, a representative
of the AFSC noted that the aim of the meeting was to initiate a region-wide
analysis of the situation and for the religious communities to examine
ways of contributing to the quest for peaceful solutions to the conflicts
and in order to devise ways of active solidarity in the region.
To achieve this goal the meeting examined the present situation and
identified the root causes of the conflicts in the DRC and within the SADC
and suggested ways of addressing the problems. The participants also discussed
the issues of governance that have contributed to the crisis in the DRC
and examined the prophetic role the Church could play to resolve the conflict.
Following discussions in both plenary and in groups focusing on root
causes, the prophetic role of the churches and issues of governance, the
participants examined the implications of the conflict in the Great Lakes
and SADC regions and suggested a plan of action to address the problems.
GROUP ONE - SADC region TASK - Arising from root causes already outlined,
the issues of democratic governance and the prophetic function, discuss
implications on the SADC and the wider African region. Suggest possible
practical steps of action to meet those challenges
Problems of Governance - Exclusion of Groups from decision making -
non availability of political options resulting in military options and/or
puppet governments - lack of moral authority; hypocrisy - inability of
State to address internal problems - corruption - unfulfilled expectations
and promises, - abuse of power - leaders usurping the mandate of the people
Prophetic Role of the Church - Need for declaring and proclaiming God's
will to the times - Need for a predictive element by studying trends in
the region - Need for working and experiencing God's Kingdom on earth -
Need for speaking the truth in love - Need for understanding our moral
authority and power of our constituency - Need for a critical role of prophecy;
encourage, denounce and reconstruct - Need for dealing with hurt feelings
wisely; understanding and analysing - Need for non-partisan standing of
the Church (addressing issues and not parties and personalities) - Need
for the Church to stand as agents of unity and reconciliation - Need for
power of prayer - Need for a teaching ministry - Need for a holistic ministry
- soul, mind and body - Need for an ecumenical outreach - Need for self
sustenance of the Church
Implications on the SADC region - disunity among members of SADC - competing
ideologies and/or spheres of influence/power/interests - tendency to distort
or cover up the real issues e.g. use and misuse of genocide, personalizing
issues, exporting internal problems into other territories - challenging
the established structures within SADC e.g. military intervention protocol
- hunger for power, expansionism, bigger brother syndrome - Western influence
on groups in the SADC; similar challenges to FOCCESA by ecumenical partners
- diversion of economic focus/priorities of SADC - Role of South Africa
as supplier of military hardware to the Lakes region needs to be discussed
- marginalisation of minority groups in SADC region is likely to lead to
more serious conflicts - danger of SADC leaders becoming another belligerent
club - xenophobia syndrome is exercebated as economic conditions worsen
PLAN OF ACTION - Church policy monitors/analysts on all sections of
regional and national groupings. e.g. SADC COMESA, EAC, OAU, as a matter
of priority, e.g. military expenditure Implementation: National Council
of Churches, Churches, Ecumenical bodies - create mediation teams for rapid
response to crisis situation currently prevailing - Increased information
sharing within the region - Deputation team to DRC - solidarity, fact finding,
explore possibilities for dialogue and reconciliation - unearthing and
addressing seeds of conflict - facilitate a training workshop in mediation
and conflict resolution as a matter of priority - 1999 Implementation:
AACC and FOCCESA - urge National Council of Churches to continue on civic
education - urge all heads of state to seek diplomatic rather than military
solutions
GROUP TWO - Great Lakes region TASK - Arising from the Root Causes,
Problems of Governance and the Prophetic function, discuss implications
on the Great Lakes region. Suggest possible practical action to address
these implications.
Root Causes - identity problems in DRC of Congolese of Rwandese origin
- problems of integration/exclusion - lack of protection and security -
lack of democratic process for problem solving - international community's
hidden agenda and double standards - exportation of ideology of genocide
- military options as the easy answer - political opportunism - using situations
across borders to political advantage
Other Contributions to tensions in Great Lakes and East Africa region
- Nairobi bombings: Christian-Moslem tensions; Kenyan government restricting
refugees and other foreigners; anti - foreigner public sentiment - Economic
rivalry: Asian relations threatened - Treaty for economic/political cooperation
between Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi may now be postponed
due to DRC war which has separated Kenya from others. In principal, a federation
would be formed. Misinterpretations of this as ethnic empire building -
ethnic alliances between people in governments of various countries sustain
the instability in the region and cause exportation of genocide, exclude
others from democratic processes and security - Clinton's visit gave US
endorsement of the "new generation" statesmen, creating further
division. US is using this for their battle against Islamic fundamentalism
- Eritrea-Ethiopia rift and Tanzania-Rwanda rift may threaten this club
of the "new generation statesmen". - US intelligence and military
use of Kenya influences the weight of Moi in the region.
PLAN OF ACTION - Appoint a team to visit key state leaders to present
the churches' concerns and stance and hear their reasoning and give advice.
Also to visit religious leaders in those countries to hear their interpretation
and support their advocacy, prophetic role. Start with DRC. - Reactivate
the plan launched in November 1996 for a meeting of Great Lakes church
leaders with their political leaders. (Don't wait until WCC General Assembly
has passed!) - Convey to the US and French Churches our concerns about
their presence (through missionaries, etc.) in the region and their dialogue
with their government and its influence (negative and positive) their meaningful
solidarity, etc. - Improve communication between churches in the Great
Lakes Core Group - Identify a mechanism within the core group to disseminate
information and interpret events on a regular basis for use by churches
in the rest of the continent for prayer and advocacy work - Support statement
calling for removing Hutu/Tutsi specific language naming where it is unhelpful
and stereotyping/categorising - Urge churches in DRC to preach/counsel
peace and reconciliation. Focus on youth who are "used" to counter
culture of militarism - Urge DRC government to immediately solve identity
crisis in DRC - Encourage the DRC churches which already started discussion
of identity problems to renew and sustain their efforts. - Call on invaders
to live - Call on invading countries to address problems of security from
within their own countries.
Final Communique of the Emergency meeting on the crisis in the Democratic
Republic of Congo
We, the representatives of the churches and ecumenical organizations
in southern Africa and the Great Lakes Region held an emergency meeting
in Lusaka from 7 - 10 September 1998 on the current situation in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting was convened by the Fellowship of
Councils of Churches of Eastern and Southern Africa and the All Africa
Conference of Churches in collaboration with the American Friends Service
Committee, World Council of Churches and hosted by the Christian Council
of Zambia. Among the 25 participants were also representatives from the
Evangelical Fellowships of Zimbabwe and Zambia and the (Catholic) Episcopal
Conference of Zambia, Southern Africa Churches in Ministry with Uprooted
People and the Lutheran World Federation.
Having analysed critically the conflict in the DRC and its implications
on the wider region, and having considered the interpretation of the situation
by the churches of the DRC, we noted that the conflict has two dimensions,
namely, internal conflict and external aggression. We established that
the root causes of these dimensions were insecurity, issues of identity,
poor governance, political opportunism with its military options, and selfish
economic interests.
In the case of the DRC insecurity brought about by unresolved conflicts
arises from the legacy of the previous regime and unsolved problems by
the current government. This situation has been exacerbated by the presence
in the DRC of armed groups from neighbouring countries who are seen to
pose a security problem to their home countries. These armed groups have
become a pretext for invasion of the DRC by neighbouring countries such
as Uganda and Rwanda. The problem is further compounded by the emerging
trend of exporting internal conflict to other countries through aggression
and support of rebels as is the case in the DRC.
There are serious questions of ethnic and national identity. These are
not unique to the DRC, yet it is important that the country addresses the
issue of its own integration for the sake of future peace and stability.
Fifteen months after the departure of the previous regime the issue
of democratic governance has not been seriously addressed. Instead of political
dialogue and consensus building the current political process has perpetuated
exclusion and marginalisation. This has provided fertile ground for political
opportunism to take root, as the misuse of ethnic diversity clearly demonstrates.
Outside forces have taken advantage of the internal weaknesses in the DRC
to promote their own selfish economic interests at the expense of the life,
dignity and sovereignty of the people of the DRC.
As the church of Jesus Christ, our mandate stems from the Biblical imperative
to proclaim the sacredness of life, and uphold justice with mercy by speaking
the truth in love. We are concerned that under the culture of violence
that prevails in the region, lives and property are being destroyed and
economic resources wasted. At a time when the DRC and other countries in
the region need resources for the health and education of their people
and reconstruction of their infrastructure, they are directed to the financing
of war.
We appeal to the churches and other faith communities, the political
leadership and the people of the DRC to do everything in their power to
bring an immediate end to the war, to embark on a process of reconciliation
through dialogue, and promote consensus on the issues that affect the welfare
of the people and the state, including safeguarding the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of the DRC.
We appeal to our churches, communities of other faiths and international
partners to stand for the truth and to influence their own constituents
and governments to promote policies that affirm the value of life, peace
with justice, and integrity of creation.
We appeal to the countries in the region to seek just and sustainable
solutions to the existing problems through dialogue, not military force.
We call upon invaders to leave the DRC and let the people of that country
sort out their internal problems peacefully. We call upon the invading
countries to address their security problems from within their own borders.
We call upon the member states of the Southern Africa Development Community
(SADC) to adopt a cohesive approach towards the issues affecting the region
through consultation and consensus building in their decision making.
We appeal to the churches of Southern Africa and the Great Lakes region
to actively monitor and influence developments in order to pre-empt situations
of tension and conflict.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
H.D.U. Nkhoma, Bauleni Reformed Churches in Zambia, Box 51171, Lusaka,
Zambia
Japhet Ndhlovu, Reformed Church in Zambia, P.O. Box 32301, Lusaka, Zambia,
Tel. (01) 231206, Fax 224308, E-mail: [email protected]
Violet Sampa-Bredt, Christian Council of Zambia, P.O. Box 30315, Lusaka,
Zambia,
Tel. 224308
Fackson Banda, Christian Council of Zambia, P. O. Box 30315, Lusaka,
Zambia,
229551/ 224622, E-mail: [email protected]
Enock Masuhwa, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, Box 31981, Lusaka,
Zambia,
Tel. 291876
John H. Mambo, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, P.O. Box 31337, Lusaka,
Zambia,
Tel. 245526, Fax. 245469
Rt. Rev. Leonard Mwenda, Bishop of Lusaka, P.O. Box 30183, Lusaka, Zambia,
Tel. 253467
Andre Karamaga, Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, P.O. Box 56, Kigali,
Tel/Fax (250) 76929
Lucas Amosse, Christian Council of Mozambique, P.O. Box 108, Maputo,
Mozambique,
Tel 258-1-425102, Fax 258-1-421968, E-mail: [email protected]
Daniel Ntoni-Nzinga, AFSC Quakers International Affairs Programme, P.O.
Box 4921 Johannesburg 2000,
Tel 27-11-8384807, Fax 5387139
Tendai Chikuku-Nyahoda, EDICESA, P.O. Box H. 94 Hatfield, Harare, Zimbabwe,
Tel 263-4-570311/570311, Fax 572979, E-mail: [email protected]
Richard Chidowore, EDICESA, P.O. Box H.94, Hatfield, Harare, Zimbabwe,
Tel. 263-4-570312/572958, Fax: 572979
Rev. E. Chomutiri, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, Box 670, Masvingo, Zimbabwe,
Tel 63332
Densen Mafinyani, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, P.O. Box 3866, Harare,
Tel 773654, Fax 773650
Patson Netha, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box 2803, Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe,
Tel. 263 9 74922, Fax 68179
Shirley DeWolf, Southern African Churches in Ministry with Uprooted
People, Box 926, Mutare, Zimbabwe,
Tel. 263-20-66923, Fax. 60494
Ngeno Nakamhela, Council of Churches in Namibia, Box 41, Windhoek, Namibia,
Tel 00264-61-217621, Fax. 262786
Ngoy Mulunda-Nyanga, AACC, Box 14205, Nairobi,
Tel. 441483, Fax. 443241
Karimi Kinoti, C/O NCCK, P. O. Box 45009, Nairobi, Kenya,
Tel. 338284, Fax. 224463
Dr. Peter Bissem, NCCK, P.O. Box 45009, Nairobi, Kenya,
Tel. 254-2-215560/ 217760
Kitobo Kabwe ka Leza, CCKC/C.C.C./Rataya, P.O. Box 2809, Lubumbashi,
DR Congo
Maria B. Mbelu, Council of Swaziland Churches, Box 1095, Manzini, Swaziland,
Tel 53628, Fax 55841
Ishmael M. Mqathazane, Christian Council of Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho,
Tel. 313639
Rev. Osias Habingabwa, National Council of Churches of Burundi, P.O.
Box 17, Bujumbura,
Tel (257) 224216/ 227941, Fax. 227941
Augustine Musopole, Malawi Council of Churches, P.O. Box 300068, Lilongwe
3, Malawi,
Tel. 783 499/782107, Fax. 783106
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa
Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary objective is to widen
the policy debate in the United States around African issues and the U.S.
role in Africa, by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant
information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals.
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