West African Church Leaders Outline Role of Stakeholders in Sahel Peace Process

Having highlighted “the predation of natural resources by both internal actors and external” as one of the factors fueling crisis in the Sahel region, the delegates who met in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou urged international actors “to respect the right of people to dispose of their natural local resources for their own development, to stop the activities of predation or looting of natural resources, to put an end to the unfair agreements that undermined the development of states, and the sale of weapons that fuel conflicts, destabilize states and incite attacks that sow desolation within populations.”

Viewing “the diplomatic representation in the Sahel countries” among stakeholders in the peace process, the Church leaders called for the promotion of “a true partnership respectful of international law and open cooperation between people.”

The Church leaders also acknowledged “Sister Episcopal Conferences” as valuable stakeholders , calling them “to hear the call of the poorest and most vulnerable, to promote greater solidarity in the fight for the protection of life and the defense of human dignity in conflict-affected countries, through awareness-raising, advocacy, and to develop concrete solidarity initiatives with all those affected by crisis.”

Two other stakeholders identified by the delegates include affected populations and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

While persons affected by the crisis in the Sahel region are expected to “know how to remain worthy and stay confident without giving into hatred nor revenge,” members belonging to NGOs can contribute to the peace process by working “for a world of justice and peace.”

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“We reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with all people of good will so that in an emergency, we will put a stop to the killings and the displacement of the populations, that their causes are eradicated, that the victims are not abandoned on their own, but that their material, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual care is insured, and that work is committed to effective conflict prevention, and lasting peace and sustainable living, especially through the practice of dialogue, justice and reconciliation,” the Church leaders concluded.

According to CRS, while Ghana and Ivory Coast are not part of the Sahel region, they were represented in the two-day meeting since “the region’s porous borders pose a real risk of the violence spreading to neighboring countries.”

The humanitarian agency through its West Africa regional director Jenniffer Overton has also called on the United States government to balance its military intervention in the crisis with humanitarian intervention saying, “This conflict can’t be solved through military intervention alone. We have to ensure we build trust among communities, provide education to young people and prevent the violence from spreading further.”

According to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 1800 schools have been forced to close down due to the crisis in the Sahel region, while an estimated 316 people have been killed, more than 317,000 people displaced and 103,000 people forced to become refugees.

The report estimates that by the end of 2019 alone, 5.1 million people will need assistance.

Besides seeking to identify and deal with the root causes of the Sahel region crisis, CRS has intervened through humanitarian assistance aimed at saving lives by providing the basics of life, including food and shelter to those affected by the crisis. Long-term development projects in agriculture and education are also part of the intervention by CRS.