This interview with the Central African Republic Interfaith Peace Platform members Imam Oumar Kobine Layama and Rev. Nicolas Guerekoyamene-Gbangou was facilitated by KAICIID at the Madrid +10 Policy Dialogue. The religious leaders travelled to Madrid invited by KAICIID to participate in a workshop on building peace through interreligious dialogue. The interview was originally published in Spanish on Zenit.org.  

The Archbishop of Bangui, Mons. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, the President of the Islamic Council, Imam Oumar Kobine Layama and the President of the Evangelical Alliance, Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou, founded the Interreligious Platform of the Central African Republic in 2013. This is an interfaith organization that represents the three major religions within the country, and promotes dialogue as a preventive measure against religious violence and as a means to seek peace.

In the midst of war, the three religious leaders agreed to work together to address the growing instability in the Central African Republic. Since then, they have continued to persuade Muslims, Catholics and Protestants to avoid further violence and revenge amongst their religious communities.

The three leaders travel around the country, visiting cities and towns and talking to communities about peace, mutual respect, tolerance and trust. Furthermore, their actions have prompted a unanimous decision by the United Nations Security Council to set up a peacekeeping force.

The Central African Republic, a country in the heart of Africa that is ravaged by violence, is experiencing the worst crisis in its history. In this exclusive interview, conducted during their recent visit to Madrid to participate in a forum organized by KAICIID, Imam Oumar Kobine Layama and Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou explained to ZENIT the situation that they are facing and their expectations for the impending visit of Pope Francis to Bangui.

                                                                                                          

What is the situation in the Central African Republic?

- Imam Oumar Kobine Layama: Currently, what is happening has been a surprise to us all. There have been many efforts made by the Platform, the international community and civil society to achieve peace within the country. Unfortunately, the enemies of peace are still there to jeopardize this. This is despite the efforts made by all concerned to denounce the crimes, the hate. This situation invites us to reflect. It asks us, once again, what we should do to ask the international community to help us to restore peace.

- Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou: Political commentators are questioning the efforts made by both the government and the different religions in the Central African Republic. We are approaching a general election. Therefore, we understand the agitation. But we cannot understand and accept the attitude of people who call themselves patriots and use violence to try to seize power or endanger the lives of the people. We religious leaders cannot understand this nor can we allow it.

Many media outlets are saying that there is an ongoing religious conflict in the country. What do you make of this suggestion?

- Imam Oumar Kobine Layama: This is manipulation by politicians. When you look at the composition of Séléka, you realize it is not a one hundred percent Muslim militia. Some of its members belong to other faiths. Therefore, it is not a Muslim group. It is secular. Also, there are Muslims among the members of the anti-Balaka groups. These rebel groups are not motivated by any religious component. They do things that are forbidden by all religions. Therefore, you cannot say it is religion that has caused this rebellion. With regard to Séléka, there is not one religious person amongst them and the same goes for the anti-Balaka groups. There are certain people who belong to one religion or another, but the cause is purely political.

- Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou: Muslim, Catholic and Protestant religious leaders have worked in unison for peace since 2012 . All this effort came to fruition in September with the Day of Peace, which took place in Bangui as part of an international week of peace.

People pray on weak spirits to provoke religious divides and hostilities to gain power, but we are optimistic. We believe that it will not succeed, because the Central African Republic is 52 percent Protestant, 29 percent Catholic and 15 percent Muslim, representing 96 percent of the total population. What does this mean? It shows that the Central African people are deeply religious. There will come a time when the Christians say: 'I am not an enemy of the Muslims'. And the Muslims will say, 'I am not an enemy of the Christians'.

Given what is happening, is it possible to achieve a negotiated solution?

- Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou: Christians, Muslims and non-believers enter into dialogue all the time, on a regular basis. It is the politicians who use the armed groups to prevent this dialogue. Even so, we believe there will come a time when the armed groups will grow tired of fighting; they will weaken and lay down their arms.

Using the force of words, we religious leaders will disarm the violent hearts, so that one day it may once again be possible to live together in peace in the Central African Republic.

What do you expect from the visit of Pope Francis to your country?

- Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou: Pope Francis has granted us the honor of receiving us twice at the Vatican. For us, the three members of the Interreligious Platform, this is just repayment for everything that he has given us. All the believers in Central Africa will mobilize to see Pope Francis.

We believe that he will repeat the beautiful messages of peace that motivated our people. He will encourage the Central Africans to put away their arms and return to living together as brothers.

Would you like to convey a message to the international community?

- Imam Oumar Kobine Layama: We ask the international community to help the population to recover, to free themselves from the armed groups, both the Séléka rebel group and the anti-Balaka self-defence groups, to help the people, because they truly want to live together.

- Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyaméné-Gbangou: I would like to convey to the international community that we are tired. Tired of broken promises. Tired because the UN resolutions are not met in full. Tired, because we have no freedom of movement and we want it back. We hope for all of these actions from the international community. Thank you.