West Africa churches seek peace efforts

Christian Century, April 5, 2003

A high-level delegation of eight church leaders from West Africa came to America in March for consultations with U.S. government and church officials, pleading for help with peace efforts in their troubled region and not wanting to settle for emergency relief.

The ecumenical leaders were from the Mano River Union countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, accompanied by Gambia and Ghana delegates. They were invited by Church World Service to mobilize support for resolution of civil conflict and reduction of poverty.

Until 1989, West Africans felt immune to the strife plaguing other parts of Africa, but then civil war erupted in Liberia and soon engulfed next-door neighbor Sierra Leone and most recently Ivory Coast. The conflict has displaced millions of people, severely damaged the infrastructure, and precipitated shocking human rights atrocities.

"Our children, who make up nearly half of our populations, have known nothing but war," said Anglican Bishop Tilewa Johnson, a member of the delegation, who chairs the Gambian Christian Council. He said that the region won't have peace until the crisis in Liberia is resolved.

"When you put out a fire, to get it to stay out, you have to put it out at its source," Johnson said. "In our region, the fire started in Liberia and spread." The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is complicating the search for peace, convincing the bishop that the area is a testing ground for new weapons.

Prince Porte, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Liberia, agreed, arguing that the international nongovernmental organizations "put the cart before the horse" when they sponsor refugee assistance and development projects in West Africa without addressing the most important question--the need for peace.

"If we don't stop the war, we will always have refugees," said Porte. "To have sustainable development, you have to stop the fighting and sustain the peace."