Activists and clergy from across Africa gathered in Johannesburg last week for a conference organized by Pax Christi International.
A number of employees from of PAX also attended. The theme of the conference was “Nonviolence in Africa: Creating a Future of Hope”. Over 30 member organizations from nine African nations were represented.
“We worked on an agenda for nonviolence in Africa with partners from countries like South Sudan, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Liberia, Ethiopia and Burundi,” explains PAX programme leader Sara Ketelaar. “We were inspired by great peacemakers of the past, such as Nelson Mandela, and of the present. Bishop Paride Taban, from South Sudan, and Bishop Kevin Dowling from South Africa were both at the conference.”
Participants were also inspired by Pope Francis’s message on the 50th World Day of Peace, “Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace”.
At the conclusion of the week, the conference issued a Statement on a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.