The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015 - (Page 22)

conFlIcT TransFormaTIon Central African Republic Rebel Groups Train for Peace by Lance Muteyo A frica is like a coin with two sides. On one side it is engraved with civil wars, extremism, terrorism, corruption, political intolerance and poverty. On the other side, Africa is the mother of natural wonders, rich cultural diversity and high morality. Yet few want to ponder about the beauty of Africa. It always harrows my soul to see the portrayal of Africa as a frail, naked, malnourished baby, not to mention other negative stereotypes. This portrayal may be true, but it is not always true! Africa needs good ambassadors like a young Baptist man named Fabrice Anthony Kettemalet from the little-known Central African Republic (CAR). His country has been ravaged by civil war since 2012. There have been moments of peace, but not without brawls of violence and anarchy. Fabrice had the opportunity to flee to a peaceful country and get away from the killing and maiming in his country. However, he decided to fight for a cause he seriously believed in. He is now a lone, interfaith peace hero in a sea of despair. Fabrice is a goal-setter. He is results-oriented and resilient. During the "Nigeria 10 days Training of Conflict Transformation Trainers" in May 2014, which I co-facilitated with Daniel Buttry, Fabrice was up to the daunting task with which we confronted him. He was nominated to the Steering Committee for the Pan African Peace Network as the representative of the Central African region. CAR is a French-speaking nation. Fabrice only speaks basic English, so he struggled with language for 10 days, yet refused to throw in the towel. He was more engaged and attentive than any other participant. After the Nigeria training, he went back home and founded a peace organisation called Bird of Peace, Oiseau de la Paix in French. Defying many perceptions outsiders have of donor dependency and begging in Africa, Fabrice quickly took responsibility and preached interdependency. He participated in a training of leaders of youth associations called "Toward Citizenship on the Path of Peace." It was organized by ATD Fourth World Central Africa1 and conducted by the NGO Umuseke of Rwanda. Fabrice was a co-facilitator. The purpose of the training was to equip leaders of youth associations with tools for reconciliation by establishing a bridge between opinions and facts. In his overall plan of action, Fabrice asserted: Our primary objective is to train religious groups and communities on Conflict Transformation with nonviolence in order to prepare for an effective reconciliation for sustainable social cohesion. Central Africans must reconstruct the whole social fabric destroyed by the war, so it is imperative that everyone contributes to the restoration of peace in the Central African Republic. So I plan some activities with both Christian and Muslim organizations. Amani Milele [Peace Forever]. Indeed, Fabrice's prayer was answered, and, in September, he received support from the Global Peacemakers Mentoring Fund to conduct a three-day Conflict Transformation workshop for Anti-balaka rebel groups.2 Left: Fabrice Anthony Kettemalet, left, with Dan Buttry, at a Conflict Transformation Training in Nigeria last May. Photo courtesy of Lance Muteyo. 22 Baptist Peacemaker JAN-MAR 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015

No Longer Strangers: The BPFNA’s New Strategic Plan
A Reflection On Our Convictions & Motivation
Board Welcomes Kadia Edwards as Young Adult Representative
Baptists, Others Respond to Ebola Crisis
Gimme Shelter: My Vocation as a Peacemaker
Kidnapping of Students Leads to Outrage in Mexico
Parting Thoughts
With the Beating of Our Hearts: Bearing Witness to Other’s Pain
Dispatches from Ferguson: A Two-Part Account of a Week in St. Louis
The Gospel Is Not a Neutral Term: Excerpts from an Interview with Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Seko
Selma, 50 Years Later: A Memoir
Imaging, Journeying & Standing before One Creation, Part 1: Who Shaped My Image of Creation?
BPFNA Receives Grant for Justice Work on the US/Mexico Border
Central African Republic Rebel Groups Train for Peace
The Global Influence of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Resources & Opportunities
Keep It Real

The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015