Issued by the Presidency
14 October 2002
The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Dr Noko,
The leadership of the faith community from the continent and beyond,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Esteemed guests,
Brothers and sisters,
I am filled with pride as an African to become part of this first African Inter-Faith Peace Summit as you deliberate on the role of the faith community in entrenching peace in our beloved African continent.
We are indeed encouraged by this conference as it indicates to us that the faith community fully recognises its key role and responsibility in fostering a culture of peace and fellowship in the continent.
Your theme entitled, "Embracing the Gift of Peace," is most appropriate. Members of the faith community are well placed to promote the embracing of peace, as you minister to all affected in conflicts - the victims, perpetrators, observers and those who have the power to stop the conflicts. Your involvement in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts is therefore critical. The gift of peace in our continent needs encouragement, nurturing, guidance and most importantly, prayers.
Every gesture by members of the faith community is bound to have an impact in the troubled communities. For example, we noticed the positive impact of the visit of a delegation of the South African Council of Churches to Burundi recently, to minister to the community and South African soldiers stationed there. The visit also made it clear to us that we are not alone as government in trying to find solutions to the problems facing our sister countries.
Brothers and sisters, this crucial gathering takes place only three months after the launch of the African Union in Durban, where amongst other things, the leadership of the continent made a commitment to work tirelessly for the regeneration of Africa. Part of this regeneration entails concerted efforts at ridding the continent of conflicts and wars, as sustainable development cannot take place successfully in the presence of wars, conflicts and attendant death, destruction, misery and pain.
The programmes of the AU, such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) are geared towards enabling the African Union to achieve these regeneration goals. NEPAD is, as you are aware, a comprehensive programme aimed at removing Africa from its development stagnation, poverty, conflicts and other challenges.
Distinguished guests, let me remind you, on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union President Mbeki, that the mandate of the newly launched African Union, encapsulated in the Durban Declaration and Constitutive Act, makes the vision of the leadership of the continent very clear, particularly with regards to dealing with conflicts.
In seeking solutions to conflicts, we have a guiding document in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, with its clear position on matters of peace, for example the following:
The African Union will have the necessary structures to deal with conflict in the form of the Peace and Security Council, which is in the process of being established. Its functions will include early warning, preventative diplomacy, peace making and peace support operations.
The Council will also coordinate and facilitate humanitarian action in situations of armed conflict and natural disaster. You will recall brothers and sisters that the process of establishing the AU also resulted in decisions on difficult issues. These include the right of the African Union to intervene in member states in respect of grave circumstances such as war crimes, genocide and other crimes against humanity.
Let me reiterate that all these efforts that political leaders in the continent are putting into the rebirth of Africa require the active support of civil society, particularly the faith-based community. We would like to see your visible and active participation. It is important that you also play a key role in monitoring the performance of leaders to ensure that the undertakings they make are implemented for the common good of the continent and all its peoples.
Ladies and gentlemen, we believe that all Africans should play their part in bringing about an end to the mayhem and destruction in some parts of the continent. As a proudly African state, South Africa is playing its modest role in various areas, particularly in the Great Lakes region, particularly in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are doing this for no ulterior motive except our strong belief that the freedom, peace and stability that we enjoy should be extended to our sister countries in the continent.
The peace process in the DRC is advancing at an accelerated pace. Last week, South Africa hosted a truly representative and inclusive meeting of the unarmed political parties and the civil society organisations of the DRC, who came together to discuss the political matters that were not resolved during the two-month long Inter-Congolese Dialogue that took place at Sun City earlier this year.
At the same time, the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement of July 30, between Rwanda and the DRC, is taking place at great speed. The withdrawal of the Rwandan Patriotic Army from the territory of the DRC took many by surprise, as many detractors had said in July that the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement was an unachievable goal.
Our country is also playing its role as the Third Party as required by the Pretoria Agreement. In this context, we are working with our Third Party partner, the United Nations, to monitor and guarantee the implementation of the Agreement. We have also acceded to the request of the United Nations to deploy more military personnel in the DRC.
As alluded to earlier, we have deployed a military contingent in Burundi to protect leaders who have returned from exile to play a role in the transformation of their country. It has not been an easy assignment, and tragedy has struck more than once.
Allow, me at this juncture to extend our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of our military personnel who died in Burundi last week. Our hearts go to their families during this difficult time. May they find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones died on a mission of peace, to make Africa a better continent to live in.
Brothers and sisters, you may also have heard of the progress regarding the negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire between the government of Burundi and the country's armed opposition movements. When the Arusha Agreement was signed on 28 August 2000, all the signatories and stakeholders understood that it remained incomplete until the cease-fire agreement was concluded.
It is now slightly more than two years since the cease-fire negotiations began. We have during that period worked in earnest to secure a ceasefire between then belligerents, and the process has been long and arduous.
Last Monday, the Heads of State of the Great Lakes region hosted a Summit aimed at charting the way forward towards peace in Burundi. President Mbeki attended this summit as chairperson of the African Union, while Former President Mandela attended as chief mediator in the Burundi.
The attendance by all three of us at one summit indicated the importance that we afford to the resolution of conflicts in our sister countries.
The Summit had a positive ending in that two armed movements, the CNDD-FDD of Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye and the Palipehutu-FNL of Alain Mugabarabona signed the ceasefire agreement with the Transitional Agreement. Two agreements are however still outstanding, between the Transitional Government and two other armed movements.
The Heads of State gave the remaining armed movements 30 days within which they should enter negotiations, without conditions, and conclude an agreement. They will meet after a month to review the situation and if no cease-fire agreement has been reached between the parties, they will take appropriate measures against the obstinate party to restore peace and stability in Burundi.
We are of the view that the armed movements will read the mood of the leadership of the region and the African Union correctly and join the peace process within the stipulated period. I will return to Dar es Salaam soon to facilitate this round of negotiations.
Brothers and sisters, I must emphasise that there is one common thread in all the peace efforts I have mentioned and many others, the fact that solutions being sought are African solutions. It is part of the regeneration of the continent to have African countries calling upon one another for assistance in times of need, and being able to rely on each other. Such African solutions will work simply because they have not been imposed from outside the continent.
Once again, let me commend you for this initiative of coordinating the response of the faith community continentally, to the problems facing Africa. In particular, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Dr Ishmael Noko for the hard work he has put into making this project a reality.
Let me also thank the National Religious Forum for hosting this epoch making Summit. May the initiative be the beginning of greater things to come for the continent, and the beginning of a stronger and effective intervention by the faith community in conflicts plaguing Africa.
In conclusion, let me welcome all delegates from outside South Africa. I hope you will enjoy your stay in South Africa.
I thank you. Ms Lakela Kaunda Spokesperson/Chief Director: Communications Office of the Deputy President The Presidency P/Bag x1000 PRETORIA Tel: 082 782 2575 Fax: 012 326 3010