The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is deeply concerned about the large-scale human suffering in the Central African Republic (CAR) with thousands being killed, up to 1 million people displaced and half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the WEA is also concerned that national and international media have incorrectly interpreted the root of the crisis in CAR as a religious conflict between Christians and Muslims, thus giving fuel to religious tensions in the country.
“The conflict in the CAR is not a religiously motivated conflict,” stated Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General of the WEA. “The WEA is deeply troubled by the fact that some fighters now refer to their religion to justify their heinous crimes, dividing the country along religious lines.”
The WEA supports and highlights the Bangui Declaration II that was produced on February 4 by church leaders representing over 80% of the Central African population. It states that a military-political crisis has torn apart the social fabric of the country and has brought unimaginable pain, suffering, and sorrow to the people. Socio-political disorder led a number Central Africans to enter into armed rebellion against the State.
The declaration goes on to explain the importance of not misinterpreting the fighting parties as rooted in their religious belonging.