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Yaounde: Cameroon’s Prime Minister Attended the 3rd Pan-Africa Congress on Religious Freedom

In a region of the world not known for its strong commitment to religious freedom, it is heartening that the country of Cameroon provides a positive model. The city of Yaounde recently hosted the 3rd Pan-Africa Congress on Religious Freedom, which was co-sponsored by the IRLA and its associate organization in West-Central Africa.  The congress took place August 7 to 10 in the multipurpose Sports Complex. 

The congress was a great success with 750 registered participants. This was despite having the delegations from East Africa and South Africa detained at the Nairobi Airport due to a fire in the international terminal.  

The theme for the meetings was “Religious Tolerance, Peaceful Coexistence and Sustainable Development in Africa.”  It came to life through excellent speeches by a range of notable speakers, including Judge Daniel Nsereko, Appeals Chamber Judge for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon at the International Criminal Court in The Hague; and Professor Jean Bauberot from the Sorbonne University in Paris. 

We also had the honor of welcoming the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, the Honorable Philemon Yang, who congratulated the IRLA on its 3rd Pan-Africa Congress and thanked us for selecting Cameroon as the host site. The presence of Sheikh Oumarou Mallam Djibring, the General Coordinator of the Council of Imams; and leaders representing other churches and religions, further underscored that religious freedom is for all. 

On Saturday morning, August 10, the IRLA supported the Festival of Religious Freedom. The festivities began with a nearly one-mile parade on one of the main avenues of Yaoundé. This march for religious freedom—with more than 2,000 participants—was unprecedented! Pathfinders, women’s associations, and congress participants all marched together, following the cadence given by a university band.  All in attendance were impressed, and following the march the program began in the indoor stadium with 5,000 people present.  The representative from the Council of Imams and various other religious leaders gave their greetings. The Muslim Sheikh expressed strong support of religious freedom for all and opposition to any constraints on religion. I followed with the keynote address. Many guests demonstrated their interest in the IRLA by seeking membership in the Cameroon Religious Liberty Association. 

Among other actions, conference attendees resolved that the next Pan-Africa Congress will take place in 2018.  Additionally, attendees appealed for every country in Africa to establish a national association for religious freedom that will work for peace and create strong relations among all faiths. 

This third congress was built on the two that preceded it—the inaugural congress took place in Nairobi, Kenya in 1991 and the next was held in Accra, Ghana in 2006. When I attended the 2006 Congress, I was aware of the need for sub-Saharan Africa to address the many tensions and conflicts regarding religious freedom. In many respects, the situation is even worse today, as there are countries or regions where people from different religions are persecuted and killed because of their beliefs.  Fortunately, religious pluralism has long been a characteristic of Cameroon, dating back to the country’s colonial time.  It’s particularly encouraging that Cameroon has functioned as a refuge for certain religions not accepted elsewhere.  We must pray that Cameroon becomes a model for neighboring countries in the years ahead. 

It was a great privilege for Dr Ganoune Diop and me to speak at this congress, and I wish to congratulate Pastor Gilbert Wari, IRLA Secretary General for the West-Central Africa Region, and his team for this extremely successful 3rd Pan-Africa Congress. I also thank the volunteers and all those who worked so tirelessly on behalf of our Religious Liberty leader in Cameroon to make this Congress such a great success! 

--Dr. John Graz, Secretary General International Religious Liberty Association