Stop violence, promote coexistence, plead bishops of East Africa

Catholic bishops in East Africa, a region that includes some of the most fragile states in the world, has called for an urgent need to promote peaceful coexistence and a halt to ethnic violence and arbitrary arrests.

“We are saddened by the conflicts and violence taking place in some of our countries, especially Ethiopia. Many people have died and property is being destroyed in the affected areas; peace, which is the glory of humanity, deserves a chance,” the bishops said.

The Bishops of the Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, Justice and Association of East African Bishops' Conferences (AMECEA) met from November 29 to December 2 in Nairobi, for the Annual Consultative Forum.

“We urge the parties in conflict to renounce ethnic violence, arbitrary arrests and promote peaceful coexistence," the Catholic bishops said, expressing their deep concern over the growing conflicts in the region. 

"AMECEA stands in solidarity with the Sudanese people who are trying to follow the path of non-violence as a new style of politics for peace, towards democratic transition. We urge the intergovernmental agencies concerned to encourage efforts towards a peaceful transition", said their final document, Fides reported. 

The bishops pointed out that over and above the conflict, the region had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic for despite the development of vaccines "the inequality of access to drugs is still open to criticism".

For this reason, AMECEA churches call for equity in the distribution of drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and for people to "respect the established practices and lifestyle necessary for prevention and immunity". 

The East African bishops also discussed the challenges of human trafficking, refugees and internal displacement, youth unemployment, radicalization and extremism, environmental issues, governance and electoral campaigns in the region. 

To help in all these areas, it urged all parties to observe the path of dialogue with the people, with governments, with political leaders.

"The faithful and people of goodwill must be active in the work of preventing conflicts, and in building peace," they said. 

All are called to solidarity and prayer for the people affected by the different crises and conflicts "in order to promote forgiveness, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence", they said.

The conflict zones

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in East Africa alone there was an increase in estimated conflict-related fatalities from about 25 600 in 2019 to nearly 36 000 in 2020 driven by deteriorating security situations in Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Sudan, as well as ongoing large-scale violence in Somalia. 

Six of the nine countries in East Africa currently involved in armed conflicts is located in the Horn of Africa.

Radical Islamist militants have been trying to establish a so-called Islamic State in the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, with insurgent attacks and counterattacks by Mozambican state and law enforcement authorities taking place repeatedly in the country.

Increased violence against civilians caused the number of internally displaced people to more than quadruple during the year to over 500, 000. 

In Somalia the al-Shabab armed Islamist group remains a major threat despite the a peace operation by the African Union and targeted air strikes against the group by the United States. 

In South Sudan violence spiked following delays in the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and an uncertain security situation. 

There was some hope in Sudan, following progress made following the Sudanese peace process in 2019 with significant peace agreements between the government and the main armed groups.

In Ethiopia, international human rights groups have stated that Ethiopian officials and allied militia fighters are engaged in a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing in Tigray, the civil war-torn northern region, after the country's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali, started a surprise military raid in November last year.

The United Nations has reported that thousands have died and more than 2 million people have been displaced but no one knows exactly how many civilians have perished in the conflict.