Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU) – Father Augusto Mutna, coordinator of the clergy of the Diocese of Bissau, has expressed the Catholic Church’s growing concern over signs of religious intolerance in Guinea-Bissau. In a clear reference to two recent incidents, one in Bissorã and the other in Bissau, involving an Evangelical Church and a traditional place of worship (baloba), as well as threats made by a recent convert to Islam in Bissorã, Father Mutna highlighted the urgent need to address these worrying developments.

“Guinea-Bissau has always had people or ethnic groups that have lived togethmer extremely well, both in their social lives and in religion. These signs of threats and fires worry us a little. I think our conference will reflect a little bit on that,” he said.

Speaking on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the launch of the tenth Conference of the Regional Union of Priests of West Africa (URPAO), which will take place in Bissau from June 3 to 9, Father Mutna emphasized that the country’s cultural and religious diversity has historically been a source of cohesion and peaceful coexistence. This unity, he noted, has persisted despite political, military, and governmental instability.

In recent months, however, this harmony has been challenged. Father Mutna recounted a troubling incident on the outskirts of Bissorã, where a newly converted follower of Islam made threatening statements to local residents, warning of serious consequences, including expulsion, for those who abandoned Islam.

Additionally, a campaign to set fire to holy places of the African Traditional Religion has emerged in Bissau, leading to violent responses, including the burning of the Evangelical Church of Mindará. “These sad episodes, evolving negatively with signs of ethnic-religious intolerance, are very concerning,” Father Mutna remarked.

The upcoming URPAO conference will address these issues, focusing on the long-standing ability of Africans to understand and collaborate despite ethnic and cultural diversity. Father Mutna pointed out that sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most religious regions in the world, with over 80% of the population considering religion very important in their lives. The region is also known for its ethnic diversity, which includes various languages, religions, music, architecture, cuisine, and clothing.

“Sub-Saharan Africa has preserved traditions, with a significant presence of Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. However, the spirit of millions of Africans is strongly guided by the African Traditional Religion,” he noted. He also highlighted the prevalence of ethnic-religious conflicts, often driven by prejudice and intolerance from Christians and Muslims.

In 2024 alone, 25 of the 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been listed on the World Watch List for extreme and severe persecution of Christians. Father Mutna mentioned notable incidents of violence, including an attack on Muslims during a funeral in Gondar in April 2022 and the massacre of about 800 people at the Maryam Tsiyon Orthodox Church in Aksum.

The Bissau Conference will feature prominent religious leaders, including the Bishop of Bissau, Msgr. Lampra Cá, the Bishop Emeritus of Bissau, Msgr. José Camnaté Na Bissign; and potentially Msgr. Arlindo, President of the Episcopal Conference of Bishops of Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal. The Apostolic Nuncio and Vatican Ambassador in Guinea-Bissau, along with the presidents of ECO-RECOWA and URPAO-RUPWA, are also expected to attend.