November 11, 2004
By Polycarp Omolo Ochilo
AACC Executive Secretary for International Affairs

NAIROBI - Sierra Leone has suffered war for almost a decade, from 1991. The inhabitants knew nothing save serious unrelenting humanitarian crisis caused by war and terror leaving the country in ruins. Over 70,000 were killed and thousands mutilated. Almost half of its population was displaced. However, in 1999, with the signing of the Lomi Peace Agreement on 7 July 1999 calm returned to Sierra Leone. Today they are busy rebuilding their very beautiful country. The General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, on behalf of the churches in Africa, visited the country to among other things, express solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone and also to encourage the process of rebuilding the country.

The church must be in the forefront in the promotion of a lasting peace in Africa. The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala has said. The church, he said, must speak out and stand side by side with the flock, God s children, adding that God desires nothing less than a lasting peace for his people everywhere in the world.

Rev. Dr. Dandala was addressing various church leaders, civil society leaders and women leaders during a public forum in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The forum was organized by the Christian Council of Sierra Leone (CCSL). The forum s theme was Political, Economic and Ecclesiological Challenges facing the church in Africa . Rev. Dr. Dandala was leading the AACC delegation for a pastoral visit to Sierra Leone and Liberia last month. The delegation included the AACC Vice President for West Africa, Bishop Andrew Okenwa, the Methodist Bishop from Nigeria, the AACC Executive Secretary for Ecumenical Relations Rev. Arnold Temple and the Executive Secretary for International Affairs, Mr. Polycarp Omolo Ochilo.

Dr. Dandala told the Forum that the AACC delegation had come to Sierra Leone and Liberia to be in solidarity with the churches in these two countries, and to listen to them, so that the AACC advocacy could be informed and affirmed by their expressions.

He said, the challenges of civil wars and their consequences in the two countries of loss of human lives of men, women and children were unacceptable. He went on to add, that the almost total destruction of the history and civilization of these countries through senseless destruction of properties including sacred places are a test to our faith and our humanity. The church , he said, more than any other body is best placed to deal with these challenges. The suffering and struggles of the people of Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, DRC and others in troubled countries of Africa and elsewhere, borne out of negative experiences of history and from our own oppression with the tools of war , he said, should make us learn and never to surrender to the forces of tyranny that subject our people to inhuman treatment with impunity . Instead, he said, we have moral and ethical obligations as church to strive to embrace those things which brings us together and not those which separate us so that we can celebrate our differences with dignity and confidence . The church, he went on, is therefore, called upon to be in the forefront in using her prophetic voice in the restoration of the African dignity and pains of wars and conflicts. He added that, the church must also take lead in building the weaker democratic structures in Africa, social and economic foundations, and put in force measures against discrimination of women. He said that those vices were so much responsible for numerous causes of instabilities in Africa.

The AACC delegation and Heads of churches in Sierra Leone also met with the Commissioner of Anti-corruption Commission, Valentine J. Collier. Briefing the delegation, Mr. Collier said corruption is one of the greatest challenges facing many African governments. If you look around in any country and you see children looking for food from dustbins, he said, then not only is something wrong in that country, but you are also seeing effects of corruption at first sight. Mr. Collier challenged the church to understand their deep roles in society. The church he said, is the foundational source of societal values, and conscience of the state. Yet, all we see from the church is fear, silence and sadly at times, accommodation of societal ills!

In his response, Dr. Dandala said that the AACC was offering the churches in Africa to all the anti-corruption governing structures in Africa to take a serious stand against corruption. He said, that the 8th Assembly of the AACC in Cameroon took a critical analysis of corruption. This he said, led to the adoption of the binding covenants on corruption collectively by the churches in Africa.

At the end of the visit in Sierra Leone, a number of key issues critical to the churches, the people of Sierra Leone and Africa emerged. These are challenges relating to Advocacy and other specific forms of intervention such as:

• the need for continuing the capacity building for the church, the public sector, the civil society and the private sector as well. While the evidence exists on the excellent job done so far by these groups towards the re-building of Sierra Leone, much more needs to be done wholistically in the whole country.

• The continuation of the healing, reconciliation and conflict resolution as a process of ensuring a lasting peace and peaceful co-existence of the people of Sierra Leone, and

• The church and state relations: It is evident that the churches in Sierra Leone have, and continue collectively to play key roles such as services in education, health, food, reconciliation, healing etc. The church s presence is visible as part and parcel of the Sierra Leone Society. Similarly, the government as the political embodiment of Sierra Leone, is constitutionally legitimated by the people of Sierra Leone to rule the country. It is therefore, imperative for both the church and the government of the day to understand more profoundly that the communality of their obligation to work for the good of people can only be sustained and in a useful manner if they put God s children, the people, first.

Earlier, the General Secretary of the CCSL, Alimamy Koroma who was the host briefed the delegation on various challenges facing the Council. He said the pains, scars and effects of the war are still visible in Sierra Leone. However, the Council, he said, has successfully been ministering to the Sierra Leone people. We have and continue , he said, to provide services such as health, relief food, education, peace and conflict interventions as well as taking part in a number of rehabilitation and integration programmes for our people. Mr. Koroma appealed for continued assistance and partnership with the people Sierra Leone.

All Africa Conference of Churches