Mozambique: Bishop of Pemba pays tribute to 52 “true martyrs of peace”; says “”no risk of inter-religious conflict” in Cabo Delgado

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Mozambique: Bishop of Pemba pays tribute to 52 “true martyrs of peace”; says “”no risk of inter-religious conflict” in Cabo Delgado

11:02 CAT | 24 Apr 2020

File photo: DW

Mozambique has always been one of the rare examples of successful interfaith cohabitation in Africa. Could the violence and disrespect of insurgents in the north, who hide behind Islam, be a threat to this peace and harmony?

DW Africa interviewed the Bishop of Pemba, Dom Luiz Fernando Lisboa, who has followed the actions of insurgents in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, about the possible risk of inter-religious conflict.

DW Africa: How do you see the insurgents’ first attack on a Catholic mission?

Dom Luís Fernando Lisboa (LFL): They didn’t just enter the church, they destroyed the commerce. It is true that they entered the Catholic Church, but mainly what they did was leave the population poorer, because the population is already poor. And destroying people’s trade and goods saddens us more because it ends up making the lives of people who have already sacrificed so much, even worse. And by destroying people’s assets, they increase people’s suffering.

DW Africa: With this type of action, do you think there is a risk of the emergence of interreligious conflicts in Mozambique?

LFL: I don’t think that there is any risk of interreligious conflict, either in Mozambique or in Cabo Delgado, and neither have we had problems between religions. We have had several meetings and workshops between religious leaders, and written a joint letter signed by me, as bishop, by the heads of the Christian Council of Mozambique and by the heads of the Islamic Congress and the Islamic Council. We have made a practice of holding joint meetings, and we have already walked the walk for peace and prayed for peace. So there is no risk of interreligious conflict. [Muslims] have, from the beginning, distanced themselves from these attacks and said that those involved are not religious, and are misusing the name of religion to do this.

Insdw.dw_ — *Insurgents leave trail of destruction in northern Mozambique*

DW Africa: In your opinion, what needs to be done to avoid such a scenario?

LFL: In order to avoid conflicts, it is necessary for Muslims to take a stand, as they have been doing since the beginning, distancing themselves entirely from that group [of insurgents], reaffirming that they have nothing to do with them. That, on the contrary, when those people started arriving some years ago, they warned the authorities. And that is true; I have been here for many years and I know it. They had also been picking on Christians, years ago, in Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, and I also warned the authorities about it.

So, what we need to do is to continue to meet and understand each other and work together, because God is not divided; God is unique. And we have to unite against situations of violence or any kind of war because the true God is the one who wants justice, who wants peace, understanding between peoples, not war and bloodshed. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all 52 mostly young people, who recently refused to enter the war. They are true martyrs of peace. They refused to be forced into joining the ranks of those who want war, but died to defend peace. So, I want to pay my tribute to them.

Source: Deutsche Welle