Promoting Social Cohesion in the Central African Republic
Saved under CENTRAL AFRICA, Central African Republic, Religion
Tags: Peacekeeping, religion, Social Cohesion
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In May 2014, KAICIID convened a two-day meeting of experts and religious representatives from the Central African Republic (CAR) to explore how to support peacebuilding processes in the conflict-torn country.
Participants
Gathering under Chatham House rules, the consultation included participants representing Catholic, Islamic and Protestant religious communities in CAR, representatives from interfaith organizations based in CAR, as well as mediation experts from national and international organizations, such as Finn Church Aid, the Network of Traditional and Religious Peacemakers, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Special Envoy to CAR, the United Religion Initiative and the All Africa Council of Churches.
Insights
“This is not a religious conflict, but a profoundly political one.”
The participants agreed that the conflict in CAR was not a religious conflict. Its causes are rooted in historical, political and economic concerns.
Participants also warned that without immediate action to promote interreligious dialogue and alleviate the growing humanitarian and security crisis in the country, there was a significant risk of the country fracturing along religious lines leading to the eventual disintegration of the country. The risk of a wider conflict beyond CAR’s borders is evident and must be prevented.
“We need to build a common language of peace”
One participant said: “On a religious level, we don’t have a common peace language, so what can we share with the population? We need to build this peace language, to find solutions for people to find out what social cohesion really means. We live in a very rich country but politics have failed us.”
The participants emphasized the need for interreligious unity, unified models of social cohesion and a common peace language.
Recommendations
Considering the conditions under which peacebuilding must be pursued, the meeting developed recommendations for consideration in KAICIID’s work to build dialogue in the country. These included a call to:
— Work towards using dialogue to end hostilities in CAR and support efforts for reconciliation;
— Correct the myth that the conflict is affiliated with religion or that conflict occurred as a result of religion;
— Promote sustainable interreligious dialogue at the grassroots level in CAR;
— Support peacebuilding with other international and national organizations to help prevent the situation’s further deterioration;
— Work with the local and international organizations now active in CAR to create synergy in providing effective support.
