Africa tops pope's list

2007-01-08 14:58

Vatican City - The conflicts raging in Africa were at the top of Pope Benedict XVI's concerns as he held his traditional New Year's meeting on Monday with ambassadors to the Holy See.

He said: "We must not forget Africa with its numerous situations of war and tension", singling out the conflicts in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, Somalia, Uganda, the Great Lakes region and Ivory Coast.

The pope said: "The drama of Darfur continues and is being extended to the border regions of Chad and the Central African Republic.

"The international community has seemed powerless for almost four years, despite initiatives intended to bring relief to the populations in distress and to arrive at a political solution."

The pontiff urged "co-operation between the United Nations, the African Union, the governments and other interested parties", saying: "We cannot accept that so many innocent people continue to suffer and die in this way."

'We must pray for progress'

Calling for a negotiated solution in Somalia, Benedict said: "The situation in the Horn of Africa has recently become more serious, with the resumption of hostilities and the internationalisation of the conflict."

He called on "all parties to lay down their arms and to enter negotiations".

Turning to Uganda, the 79-year-old pontiff said: "We must pray for the progress of negotiations between the parties, in order to hasten the end of that cruel conflict, which has even seen numerous children enlisted and forced to become soldiers.

"This would allow the many displaced persons to return home and to resume a dignified way of life."

In the Great Lakes region, the pope noted "recent positive developments ... especially the conclusion of the period of political transition in Burundi and, more recently, in the Democratic Republic of Congo".

He underscored the need to restore the rule of law "in order to disarm the warlords and allow society to develop". He said: "In Rwanda, I pray that the long process of national reconciliation after the genocide may finally result in justice, but also in truth and forgiveness. "

In the west of the world's poorest continent, he urged "the embattled parties in Ivory Coast to create a climate of mutual trust that can lead to disarmament and peace".

The pope said that in southern Africa, "millions of people are reduced to a situation of great vulnerability that clamours for the attention and the support of the international community".

- AFP