Document
We, the Ecumenical Partners came together for an International Virtual Ecumenical Conference for peace and security in Mozambique held on the 29 October 2021. The goal of the conference was to bring together local, national, regional and global ecumenical partners,
Church-based organizations, and networks to listen, learn, reflect and explore possibilities of developing an ecumenical action plan for a short, medium and long-term response to the conflict situation in Cabo Delgado and surrounding Provinces. . We have been following with increasing concern the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique where more than 800,000 people have been displaced since 2020, following a dramatic escalation of the conflict. We were reminded that the God we worship is a God of peace (2 Cor. 13:11) and that we as his children are called to be peace makers (Matthew 5:9) and comfort his people (Isaiah 40:1).
The conference received updates on the current social, economic and political situation in Cabo Delgado and the effects on the people. Though the root causes and the motives behind the attacks are not well known, however, the causes may be attributed to weak public services, poverty, unemployment, corruption and low literacy level in the province among others. This complex crisis is exacerbated by the intensifying exploitation of natural resources by transnational corporations that displace households from the land, inhibit local economic opportunities, extract the province’s mineral wealth, and return few benefits to the local population. The food insecurity situation has deteriorated and livelihoods disrupted. The conference acknowledged that violent Conflicts, drought and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic activities are among the main drivers of food insecurity. There is a huge budget deficit in the development plan for Mozambique, which is not fully funded, hence needs to be reviewed to integrate these aspects. People in Cabo Delgado and especially in the Internally Displaced People’s camps (IDPs) are highly vulnerable. Production and productivity has been severely affected. An estimated Eighty two per cent of people do not have an alternative source of income. Thousands of people have been displaced and the level of trauma is high. Access by people to basic needs like food, shelter and water and essential services like health, education remains highly constrained. The conference acknowledged the joint military action, which has restored calm in some areas and people are slowly returning to their homes. However, the country is still in a state of great alert, and the issues of land and suspicion need to be addressed for people to return to their homes .
The conference also acknowledged with thanks the responses of the partners in Mozambique including the church, civil society, and the interfaith community in solidarity with the people of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. The church is part of the suffering and has always been present since the beginning of the war. The church advocated for peace and created platforms for dialogue and to contribute to social cohesion, linked with government through the disaster management unit and has provided all kinds of aid to contain the humanitarian crisis. It has provided food, supported the construction of houses and a permanent psychosocial listening center. Civil society organizations and the interfaith community are also present and brought all kinds of support including mediation, psycho-social support, and humanitarian aid including food and nonfood items.
In light of our common vision of life, peace, justice, and dignity of God’s people and in support of the work towards the realization of the aspirations for an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa as stipulated in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and in our efforts for a peaceful Mozambique, We, the ecumenical partners:
- Commend the different efforts by local partners in Mozambique including the Churches, the Civil Societies, the interreligious community and the government of Mozambique in their responses to the situation in Cabo Delgado.
- Call on the government of Mozambique to ensure security for the affected communities, to intensify efforts towards justice, peace and lasting solutions to the violence through dialogue, to provide protection to the returnees and to increase humanitarian support to the people of Cabo Delgado
- Call for urgent and coordinated regional and international action to respond to the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado
- Reaffirm our commitment and willingness to accompany the churches and people of Mozambique as they continue to work for justice and peace in Cabo Delgado and Mozambique.
- Commit to work with the churches and people of Mozambique to create visibility of the situation in Cabo Delgado and to encourage churches around the world in their efforts to mitigate the humanitarian and psychosocial impacts of this new threat to global public health.
- Commit to regularly engage in an Ecumenical network for peace in Mozambique to increase communication and promote active cooperation which will culminate into a Comprehensive Peace Programme for sustainable Peace in Mozambique.
International Virtual Ecumenical Conference for Peace and Security in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique was convened by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), ACT Alliance and Methodist Church of Great Britain.
