Monks on the conclusion of the tenth Convention of the Regional Union of West African Monks.
Fr Peter Konteh / CNA
West African monks mentioned their response to regional violence at a convention in Guinea Bissau.
The tenth Convention of the Regional Union of West African Monks, which concluded on 9 June, addressed the theme “The prophetic position of monks within the face of intolerance and ethnic-religious instrumentalisation in Sub-Saharan Africa”.
Attendees mentioned the causes, impacts and attainable options to the civil wars, religiously motivated terrorism, separatist insurgencies, navy coups and communal strife afflicting a number of states the place the Church has a significant social position.
Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of Freetown instructed individuals that the theme was related “as a result of our West African sub-region is witnessing a surge of conflicts of varied varieties, together with these of ethnic and non secular nature”.
“In such a scenario, we monks have an important position in spearheading battle decision and reconciliation as a result of we’re ordained to be ministers of a Church established by Jesus Christ to be a sacrament of union with God and of unity of all women and men.”
He stated he hoped the taking part monks would “deal with this problem to the credibility of our Church as a sacrament of union with God and of unity of all women and men”.
The archbishop stated colonialism was among the many central causes of continued battle, accusing Western powers of partitioning Africa “with none regard for the ethnic and conventional consistencies of the continent”.
He stated colonial powers “dumped collectively” areas that have been beforehand autonomous kingdoms and political entities, and known as them nation-states.
Consequently, many African nations emerged as amalgamations of tribes and kingdoms, missing inherent unity. This historic legacy nonetheless influences the area at this time, mirrored within the prevalence of political events rooted in tribal and ethnic identities.
Fr Domingos Ca, Professor of Biblical Theology on the Main Seminary of Bissau, warned that injustices in most West African nations have been escalating into “irreversible ruptures”.
He defined that neglecting the equal dignity and rights of people and teams can escalate into violent divisions inside communities.
“Right now, greater than ever, and particularly in nations present process democratic upheaval, persons are demanding their rights to dignity, freedom, nationwide unity, all in justice and love,” Fr Ca instructed attendees.
Fr Peter Konteh, the manager director of Caritas Freetown instructed The Pill that to handle the roots of battle, monks wanted to face firmly on the facet of reality and keep away from partisanship.
“We should keep away from division primarily based on politics, tribes, or faith. Collectively, we should work collectively to advertise unity and peace in our cherished area,” he stated.
