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PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE “ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER INSTITUTES OF AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR” (ACUHIAM), AT THE CATHOLIC UNIVEERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA (CUEA), NAIROBI,
30TH JUNE – 2ND JULY 2009

 

INTRODUCTION

Between 30 June and 2 July 2009, the Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar (ACUHIAM) organised an International Conference at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)  on the theme “Catholic Universities in Africa for Peace and Reconciliation: Searching for Root Causes of and Solutions to Violence and Conflicts.” The Conference focused, among other things, on looking for the root causes of and solutions to violence and conflicts on the African continent. ACUHIAM was established in 1989 with the objective of uniting Catholic institutions of higher learning for a common purpose. The Association has 18 members and 5 aspiring members, and 10 of the members were represented at the Conference.

Background to the Conference
Africa today is a battlefield in many countries. We notice killings, burning, destroying, looting and corruption. Africa is yet to find a lasting solution to the conflicts in Sudan and the eastern part of the DRC. In Somalia a fratricidal war has made the country ungovernable despite the presence of some African Union peacekeepers. The conflict in Madagascar, the Delta Region of Nigeria and Guinée still poses a problem. Kenya and Zimbabwe have managed to solve a post-election conflict but the underlying root causes need addressing. In Uganda the peace agreement between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony is not yet signed, and Joseph Kony and his group continues to commit atrocities outside Uganda. However, the greatest threat  in Africa is posed by communities trying to eliminate other communities.
Violence in urban centres is also a major threat that must be dealt with. Its ugly is seen in crime, different forms of congestion, poverty. This aptly described by one person during the Conference as urbanisation of poverty.

There are other forms of violence which have no physical face but which are no less dehumanising.  There is a lot of domestic violence, especially that which targets the vulnerable members of society, including women, children, refugees, and the aged etc.
Violence cannot be conceived outside environmental violence which is often a result of humans’ failure to play their role as custodians of what they have been entrusted with by God. The effects of this bad stewardship are beginning to upset the ecological equilibrium, climate changes are causing problems in many areas.

Violence is also seen in the way the African continent is being looted by outsiders, often with the collusion of the Africans themselves, thus creating structural and institutionalised injustices which hurt the most vulnerable in society. Some of the African elite instead of being champions of justice and solidarity have turned into exploitative monsters causing political, economic and social instability which aggravates the precarious situation of the poor.

 All this means that Africa is always in the headlines for not very inspiring news: corruption, hunger, poverty, ethnic clashes and abuse of human rights. As ACUHIAM celebrates its 20th anniversary since its foundation, we thought that African Catholic universities and Higher Institutes have to contribute to making Africa a better place to live in. Moreover, as the Church prepares to celebrate the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops under the theme “The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace” in October 2009, it is only fitting that ACUHIAM contribute towards the discussions and deliberations of the theme of the Synod.
Following the Association’s General Assembly which was hosted by the Catholic University of Bukavu in the DRC, between 29 April- 3 May 2008, the Scientific Committee of ACUHIAM met on 13 November 2008 in Nairobi to draw up a plan of action for the members. High on agenda was the suggestion that ACUHIAM holds an International Conference on Justice and Peace. A follow-up meeting held in Kampala, Uganda, on 29 January 2009 finalised the Conference concept paper and resolved to call for papers.

The Conference aimed at engaging a cross section of actors who will seek new ways of bringing about justice, peace and reconciliation in Africa. It aimed at sensitising Catholic institutions in Africa to participate fully in this peace process by including in their curriculum development issues of peace and reconciliation, and following them up later in their other programmes and commitments. It is also expected that these institutions will reach out to communities and educate people on peaceful co-existence and development.

Amidst war-torn societies in Africa, through implementing its resolutions and recommendations, the participants in the Conference committed themselves to  investigate ways and means of facilitating a peaceful and mutual benefiting co-existence of communities. The Conference was also a call to develop new visions on the future of Africa where people will experience peace and stability, development, integration, common ideals, values and interests. Africa of the 21st Century must achieve peace.

Expected Results of the Conference
The Conference aimed at:

  • Generating studies and analyses which will contribute to the formulation of proactive policies responding to the challenges of violence and conflict in Africa.
  • Developing focused studies on violence, conflict resolution and peace building.
  • Publishing in the ACUHIAM journal the papers presented at the Conference.
  • Taking action to follow-up the decisions and resolutions made during the Conference.

By doing this the Conference shall be able to contribute to promoting peace and security in Africa through education, training and research on peace-related issues.

Objectives of the Conference were:

  • To bring out the visibility of Catholic Universities and Institutes of Higher Learning  in Africa on global forum of issues of justice, reconciliation and peace.
  • To be active agents in preparation of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Africa to be held in October 2009.
  • To impact on the affairs of Church and society on matters of justice, reconciliation and peace.

Presentation of the Papers, Discussions and Group Reports

Here below is given in a summary form what was presented in papers and addresses, and later discussed in groups and plenaries. For anyone interested in having the background information, s/he should consult the papers and addresses that were presented. It is planned that these will be published in the ACUHIAM journal.

The report attempts to capture the issues that were agreed upon by the participants in the Conference. The points are presented in such a way that they give a good idea about what was presented and discussed, and also to facilitate getting points for action. Where the participants clearly formulated a recommendation or resolution, that has been indicated. I would like to thank the rapporteurs in each group who diligently kept a record of what was discussed and suggested. Given the methodology that was followed in making the report, it is evident that there will be repetitions. However this inconvenience is attenuated by the details given which help to give the readers, especially those who did not attend the Conference, a good idea about what transpired.When the term Catholic university is used, this should be understood to include Catholic higher institutes.The ACUHIAM Secretariat should hasten to come out with a French version of this report.I apologise for the bullet type of formatting. I am also sorry for availing the report much later than I had promised.

Here below follows the presentation of the different points and suggestions made during different fora in the chronological order. The headings indicate the titles under which the content was originally presented and discussed. Some content material might appear far removed from the theme of the Conference, but one should remember that there was a deliberate attempt to go to the root causes of violence, and to highlight how this is interconnected with all the other aspects of society.

Welcome Address

There is need to revisit ACUHIAM’s objectives to work for peace, and therefore the Association’s decision to organise a conference.Catholic universities should participate in peace building.Africa of 21st century must achieve peace.

Opening Address

The documents of SECAM’s meetings on the same topic should be used as resources.The issue of thirst for power (see Instrumentum Laboris (IL) of the 2nd African Synod of Bishops no. 11) is to be revisited.Something should be done about the exploitation of Africa by outsiders which continues and fuels injustices (IL 12).The marginalisation Africa in globalisation (IL 72) is to be addressed.There is need to revisit and evaluate reception of Ecclesia in Africa in relation to the topic under discussion.

[Recommendation]: We should put in place means of closer cooperation between ACUHIAM and SECAM in matters to do with preparing the Synod and assisting the Synodal Fathers, as well as with all matters of common interest on medium and long term cooperation between the two organisations.

Keynote address

We need to have special concern for the most vulnerable, especially women  and children. Given the magnitude of misery in our urban centres, we can talk of “urbanisation of poverty”.Among the root causes of violence and conflict, we should note: slave trade, colonial conquest, and as Africa battleground ground for cold war wars and failed political leadership in AfricaWe should invest in development, peace and security and conflict prevention as means of solving conflicts.There are reasons for hope because Africa is beginning to evolve and use home grown initiatives to solve conflicts. There is need to build a well-trained workforce and to develop appropriate academic programmes.  

Anthropological Poverty

We should fight against past and present root causes of violence as found in anthropological (human) impoverishment.To do this we need to know very well and use African human and material resources, and also ask for reparations to heal memory and for justice.The Church in Africa should take up the mandate to rethink and inculturate theology and the Gospel, and be witness of justice in its structures and practices.There is need to create a martyrology of African martyrs giving the names of the major witnesses to the African causes including justice, peace, and reconciliation, to show that even today it is possible to be prophetic to the point of giving one’s life.African Catholic universities are to make a difference in fighting against anthropological poverty in our institutions and on the continent by preparing a better Africa using the values of solidarity and sharing to solve conflicts and violences. 

University and the Word of God

We should use the Word of God to promote a biblical pastoral approach for reconciliation.We need a creative, rigorous and daring reflection on reconciliation inspired by the Word of God.There is need for training in the Word of God in view of leading to commitment.We should be involved in African and PanAfrican activities to promote Africa and its rebirth Africa (see Aloïne Diop).Universities should train and form a responsible civil society and political class and  endeavour to remain free and critical before political and religious powers, and regionalisms.

 [Resolution]: We should create an observatory which is to be vigilant about the role of universities in the African society.  This observatory should extend its work to state, regional and continental authorities.We should rediscover and restore indigenous systems of conflict management. Theologians should revisit the mind of the Letter to the Hebrews to help them make the Word of God accessible to the community

Plenary of 30 June 2009

ACUHIAM is to devise strategies for lobbying national, continental and African Union leadership so that killings of people can stop in Africa.ACUHIAM should initiate recasting/overhauling education systems at national level, in our universities and houses of formation to aim at having programmes which address crucial issues of African development in view of solving them. ACUHIAM needs to work with formation houses to form persons who promote peace.We should highlight and use our anthropological wealth, our bodies and in the areas of science (e.g. medicine), ethics, education, economics, to appreciate our African identity and the values that have been presented negatively.

[Resolution]: ACUHIAM should assist in working  on the redesigning, overhauling and reviewing  of academic and other programmes in universities and formation houses, to promote academic tolerance through dialogue based on values taking into account the work already done by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), ACUHIAM and the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).Members of ACUHIAM should become schools of peace through short courses for peace animators and disseminating research results.It is good for ACUHIAM to establish centres/institutes for peace, human rights and legal aid for people and communities which need them.ACUHIAM should endeavour to reach and influence positively politicians through lobbying, advocacy, writing and civic education.Books and reference materials to be produced taking into account the African context.Curriculum and teaching materials, including text books, should be informative, formative and transformative, with clear stages indicated. Programmes for training families should be developed.Studies on self-examination and critical thinking should be incorporated in academic programmes.Lecturers to be trained in peace education methodologies and in reconciling people.Literature should be used to teach people peace.There should be linkages between ACUHIAM and other catholic institutions outside the academic areas to develop peace education manuals.ACUHIAM should provide intellectual support to small catholic institutions in the rural areas dealing with peace and conflict management issues through community outreach programmes.ACUHIAM is asked to challenge bad policies through advocacy and lobbying.Faculties of Theology in Catholic Universities  should open up to lay people to form professionals who are informed about Church teaching on different issues, especially those about peace.Faculties of Theology to rethink, review and propose new approaches to evangelisation for individuals and society.We should use African traditional methods of solving conflicts and restorative justice in view of repairing broken relationships, healing of wounds and promoting forgiveness and reconciliation at grassroots by involving all the members of the community.Some theological questions regarding violence, theology of creation, fall of humankind, exegesis, to be revisited in light of the fact that Africa is practically established as the cradle of humanity.We should address the problem of Africa being a dumping ground for products which are rejected in Europe (e.g. Genetically Modified Organisms [GMOs] and meat from animals raised with hormones) and aim at promoting use of local products.

 [Resolution]: ACUHIAM through its specialised institutes in agricultural sciences must undertake to start research programmes to find African alternatives to the invasion of Western GMOs. Through this, they should solicit international cooperation with partners who have the same objectives.

[Recommendation]: ACUHIM should look for funds to do collaborative research and use African traditional methods to help in finding solutions to the crises related to reconciliation, peace and justice.

Rediscovering Fraternity

We should rediscover fraternity by going beyond the concept of brotherhood/sisterhood based on blood relationships and address that what has made us lose our brother/sisterhood.It is urgent to look for means of lasting reconciliation and peace through education, and endeavour to solve conflicts between ethnic militia, rebels groups and governments.Universities in the Great Lakes Region should particularly undertake to deal with questions related to peace, justice and reconciliation and to contribute solutions.

[Resolution]: Universities to research, use, diffuse and help in putting in practice brotherhood pacts in the whole of Africa. 

The Media in Africa

We should study the media’s role in causing and exacerbating conflicts.Churches to have an active partnership with the media, especially those related to the Church.An undergraduate course for all faculties to be put in place for media literacy.

[Resolution]: ACUHIAM should undertake to create a cross-cutting course on the media to better understand their impact in society and manage them better using evangelisation. 

Schools and Culture of Conflict

We should reverse the general trend of mistrusting and mistreating the learner and rethink an education school system which does not respect and promote the African reality and produces violence.

  • In view of this there is need to: revisit the assessment method, review curricula, integrate indigenous education and improve on pupil-teacher relationship.

Education for Peace

Education for peace has to be at all levels: family, nursery school, primary etc.We need a good understanding of peace which does not mean absence of war.At university level, there is need for courses which deal with law, education for peace, social sciences.We should educate students in the sense of service.

 Fraternal Conflicts: Cain and AbelSolving conflict should not lead to annihilation: Cain was marked for healing not for shame.Even in violence there is hope: life continues after death.We must find a way for offender and victim to coexist. Offenders must take responsibility for their actions.There is need to redress the victims and to rethink the definition of victim and offender.We should continue with critical analysis of conflict from the roots and not just from its manifestations.

 Museums and Peace

It is good to aim at developing community peace museums which come from the grassroots to preserve memories of the African heritage and build the future.Even images of miseries of war can be educative if they are realistic and not meant for entertainment.

Environment and Peace Education

Need to care for the environment which is the work of creation to avoid conflict: good management  of the environment  contributes to beauty, avoids waste and promotes equity.We should promote African traditions and religions in conserving the environment.We should be careful about the use of new agricultural technologies which might deplete the environment, especially GMOs.

[Recommendation]: We should undertake research, studies and action programmes on the environment and ecology.

[Resolution]: ACUHIAM should create an institute to research and study the environment and ecology.

Youth Accompaniment

Education should play a critical role in bringing about positive change in the youth.The teacher should  be an instructor, formator and facilitator.There is need to review the current education systems (curricula, culture of exams etc.) and to rethink the classroom concept and the whole pedagogy.

[Recommendation]: ACUHIAM should find means to accompany the non-school going youth and the poor.   

Peace and Conflict Resolution in Curricula

We should highlight the goal of peace education as promoting all that is required to promote good inter-group and other relations.Lets us infuse peace and conflict studies in social studies and/or history by considering informal, formal and non-formal education.

Plenary of 1 July 2009

We should rediscover and strengthen the link between community and education to avoid violence.There is need to impart life skills.In our programmes we should include strategies to fight against HIV/AIDS.There is need to train in regaining self-confidence.Catholic universities must address their weaknesses before linking up with major seminaries.

[Resolution]: In reforming/changing the education system, universities, seminaries and houses of formation should include courses on administration, management, accounting, project planning at all levels of formation to promote good management and self-reliance. This initiative should be extended to animators of ecclesial communities.ACUHIAM should collaborate closely with Bishops, Episcopal Conferences, Commissions of Justice and Peace and diocese to promote justice and peace.ACUHIAM to organise inter-religious conferences, introduce cross-cutting courses like counselling, ethics, African thought, and make education accessible especially by encouraging volunteer lecturers to share intellectual capital at grassroots like the African School of Open Education (ASOE, see www.afsoe.org) is doing.We should consider ecumenical approaches when lobbying governments; this can be more effective.Families must be included in our efforts to educate for peace and reconciliation.We need an education system which helps us to come to terms with our reality without creating conflicts in the learner. ACUHIAM should support their scholars in their work and should be on the watch out so that its personnel and faculties are not exploited by foreign scholars.ACUHIAM should put in place means for examination of conscience and appropriate actions  against crimes and injustices committed through Church structures so as to have moral authority and credibility to lead our communities to justice and peace.ACUHIAM to ensure that there is proper exchange of information between Francophone and Anglophone regions to avoid duplication of work and services where possible.  

Plenary on African Synod and African Theologians: 1 July 2009

The African Church and ecclesial communities should contribute towards solving crises especially by teaching fundamental human rights and respect of persons.The Church should endeavour not to create dichotomy between Church and world.There is need to evaluate the focus on individual faith/holiness in relation to the social/community dimension of the same as found in the IL of the African Synod.We should promote solidarity between particular Churches of Africa and Europe.The methodology of producing Synod documents should be more collegial.The African Synod is very silent about women: the contribution and involvement of women in the Synod must be highlighted. 

Contribution of African theologians

Theologians should support and work with Bishops and not just criticise them.We should be positive about humanity: our hearts also produce good things and not only bad ones.ACUHIAM to address the dehumanising political and economic issues [e. g. the looting of Africa by the West which must stop and unjust agreements and dominating practices must be changed].With courage we should go to the root causes of dehumanisation in Africa and denounce its causes.African Church and theologians must revisit some issues like marriage, witchcraft [divination], veneration of ancestors which seem to pose problems to Christians. 

Role of Catholic Universities

Education in universities should promote values in and outside the institutions.Universities must create a better continent to live on by engaging a cross section of actors. They must Reach out to the communities and educate them. Do research and developmental education.Organise academic reflection conferences.Universities are to use their resources to reach a wider population on issues of conflict, violence and their resolution. Government must use policies to protect the citizens.

 Policies and Peace: Land

Many conflicts are linked to land issues and in solving them communal approach must be given priority over the individual approach.Politicians are  to be held accountable for what they do.The elite should be stopped from evicting the “peasants” from their land.The Churches must pronounce themselves about land crises, land ownership and management.Catholic universities should  influence land policies through research and lobbying and create awareness through outreach programmes to people. 

Psychological Causes of Conflict

Appreciate importance of how personal needs are linked to social issues like stereotypes and xenophobia.Psychological means to be used to reduce negative peace by addressing the underlying issues.We need a more radical approach in our institutions inspired by ethicsNeed to appreciate positively our ethnicity through education.  [We can learn from the Tanzanian experience].

Understanding and Managing Conflict in Universities

Conflict can be used positively, e.g. as an indicator that there is something to be done about   organisational management.Causes of conflicts in institutions of higher learning include those related to structures, competition, stressful environment.Among means of dealing with conflicts: accommodation;  win-win; competition; win-lose; avoidance; compromise. Those working in universities should be models of integrating ethnic differences to build African nations, and our institutions should be places where we can learn to live together.

Women: The Aggressive Pacifiers

We should note that women can also promote hatred and violence but they are also very vulnerable in situations of war.

  • Enhance their role during reconstruction in dialogue, and negotiating and bridging political divides.
  • On policy issues, the definition of female combatants should be recast.
  • Integrate traditional/community-based approaches with western techniques in solving conflicts.

Feminine genius in post-violence peacebuilding

We should learn from the genius and resilience of women in solving conflicts as portrayed in Kenya during and after the post-election conflict. Women maintained relationships within families and clans, supported and cared for Internally Displaced People [IDPs] in camps.Catholic universities should research and promote pastoral activities, processes and solutions that come from the communities.

Analysis of Conflicts and Deeper Evangelisation

Policy makers to deliberately provide space for women in conflict resolutions and involve them in peace talks and the implementation process.We should embrace the traditional methods of conflict resolution and community empowerment at all levels.Let us design curricula on peace, conflict, truth and reconciliation.The advocacy role by Catholic universities in the implementation of peace accords/policy and various recommendations should be enhanced.Catholic universities to develop informative, formative and transformative vision that will ensure sustainable peace and reconciliation strategies. We should invite students and other stakeholders from different universities to participate in conferences. They are likely to push the implementation agenda with more passion.The Catholic universities should have a common approach in passing on values to learners.The Church should provide Chaplains to the political leadership and arms of government.

The Catholic University and Peaceful Humanity

Catholic universities should produce intellectuals who develop the continent integrally using quality, relevant, transformative and formative education with ethics. Catholic universities are to seek truth through integrated research inspired by the sense of God and virtues.There should be exchange and shared programmes among Catholic universities.Catholic universities are to have solidarity with the poor and oppressed and they need effective chaplaincies.They should train job creators not job seekers.  

 Role of the Church as Family in Preventing and Solving Conflicts

We need to develop means for early warning systems in the prevention of conflicts.African universities should use the concept of Church as family which is inclusive of the living, unborn, and the (living) dead.  The concept underscores inclusion, relationships and solidarity in respect of the following: individual, family, community, those outside the community and environment.The Church should give witness to living in unity in diversity as a means of preventing and solving conflicts. There should be associations in different disciplines of our faculties for research to have a global view of the problems of Africa.

Ongoing Formation

All concerned [students, alumni, other universities, movements and organisations promoting peace, seminaries, policy makers and media people] should participate in conferences.

  • An attempt should be made to get funds to facilitate holding conferences.
  • These conferences are to be organised at intervals of 3 years with an annual evaluation.

 

Some Observations by the Principal Rapporteur

1) During some of our discussions, we used indiscriminately the terms “witchcraft”, “idolatry”, “divination”, referring to some African practices as if African “religious” practices especially in the spiritual area are all negative. This area needs revisiting. 

2) There is need to research, document and use women’s symbolic gestures in solving conflicts, e. g. when they come between fighting groups.
3) Environmental violence should have received more attention.
4) To ensure that there is continuity in the process that was started, ACUHIAM could envisage putting in place a committee dealing with conferences with some durability going beyond the terms of the Presidency.

Report prepared by:

Peter Kanyandago
pkanyandago@umu.ac.ug

Principal Rapporteur

Appendix I: Members of ACUHIAM
[Between brackets is given first the physical location of the main campus of the  institution and then the country where it is found]

 

Appendix II: Aspiring members of ACUHIAM