Interfaith Leaders Play Important Role in Liberian Ethnic Chaos

Last week saw violence break out in Paynesville, an eastern suburb of Monrovia, Liberia. People involved in the conflicts were the people of the Mandingo tribe, who are associated with the Moslem faith, and other tribal groups more commonly associated with the Christian religion.

Even though at first it was being reported as a conflict between Muslims and Christians, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) spokesman James Boynton reported on Tuesday 2nd November that the violence was actually provoked by an argument over property issues as well as disputes between rebel group and rebel splinter group members.

Inter Regional Information Network (IRIN) (from the UN’s office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reported, “Residents in Paynesville said the trouble began when a group of former fighters of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebel group beat up a man who objected to them building a house on his land. These men were from the Mandingo ethnic group. The injured man’s family and neighbours subsequently set up a manhunt for all Mandingos in the area that led to the burning of the mosque.”

The Mandingos are historically and predominantly Muslim. While the victim’s family and neighbours sought revenge by attacking local Mandingos, unexpectedly many churches and mosques were burned.

According to IRIN, “Muslim crowds subsequently burned down three churches and on Friday morning, Christian youths armed with sticks, knives and broken bottles burned down the Muslim Congress High School in central Monrovia, the only Islamic high school in the city. They also tried unsuccessfully [due to the intervention of Nigerian peacekeepers] to burn down the two main mosques in central Monrovia.”

The YMCA of Liberia, CWS’s partner in Monrovia clarified in a statement, “It is absolutely certain that it did not begin as a religious issue, but rather a land dispute.”

In the midst of the dispute which was misreported as religious related, Christian and Muslim religious leaders jointly called for calm and cessation to further violence and burnings through radio stations and broadcasters. They also worked together with the UNMIL to maintain security in the city.

Liberian Council of Churches General Secretary Benjamin Dorme Lartey reported, “UNMIL subsequently increased its patrol in the affected areas, posted security around churches and mosques in the area, and assigned a military escort to enable us to move around the area to help bring calm.”

Yesterday the Global humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) issued a statement to express their appreciation to the interfaith leaders in Liberia for being instrument of peace among the people.

“We nonetheless commend the Liberian Council of Churches and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia for taking the lead in helping end this unrest - and averting the development of future conflict between Muslims and Christians,” says Moses Ole Sakuda, Associate Director, CWS Mission Relationships and Witness Program.

Sakuda expressed his deepest concern to the Liberian Churches on behalf of CWS, “Church World Service’s prayers are with you at this difficult time when everyone had to be reminded all over again of the deep wounds of war and devastation.”

The trouble in Liberia is now basically under control. However, the incident has inevitably raised religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in the region. World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) is calling for worldwide prayers and support to the evangelicals in the Liberian Church and the interim government of Gyude Bryant, so that the nation’s journey towards disarmament, reconciliation and peace can be secured.

Currently, CWS has spearheaded to reinforce ecumenical dialogues between religious leaders. The Liberian faith leaders will now meet with Liberian Chairman Bryant on a weekly basis to plan how both faiths will work together in stopping the violence.

Next week Liberian Council of Churches will visit CWS’s New York headquarters to report on Liberia’s most recent unrest, disarmament progress and general humanitarian and economic needs.