Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - There are many crisis areas in the world where religious fundamentalism acts as a catalyser for civil war, ethnic conflict, uprisings. In the present international situation in which terrorism continues to threaten peace and the wellbeing of humanity, Fides is preparing background information on the main areas of conflict with regard to the religions present in the areas. Here is part One of this information.
AFRICA
BURUNDI
In Burundi a civil war exploded in 1993. The conflict was between the regular army under the control of the Tutsi minority and several guerrilla groups of Hutu, the majority ethnic group in that country. In effect the conflict was triggered by a request on the part of the Hutu for more representation in state institutions. In August 2000, political parties of both ethnic groups signed a peace agreement in Arusha, Tanzania, which led to the constitution of an interim government. The transition period ends this October when there will be elections. More recently in October 2003, the FDD (Forces for the Defence of Democracy), the largest rebel group signed an agreement with the government. However the FLN (National Liberation Forces) rebel group continues to fight.
Population: 6,887,000
Christians 91.7% (Catholics 4,435,000)
Animists 6.7%%
Muslims 1.6%
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
At the end of a civil war in 1998-2003, an agreement was signed for an interim government in which rebels groups were represented. However there is still tension in the eastern part of the country particularly in Kivu where former guerrilla leaders, now members of the new unified army of Congo have staged a rebellion against the central government. The last war in Congo involved troops from various African countries siding with one party or the other. In fact the country is rich in resources, gold, diamonds, uranium, timber, coltan, which attract states and multinational companies.
Population: 53,993,000
Christians 95.4% (Catholics 28,260,000)
Animists 2,4%
Muslims 1.1%
IVORY COAST
Since a civil war in 2002, despite peace agreements signed in January 2003, Ivory Coast has been divided with the north and west of the country in the hands of various rebel groups under the banner of “New Forces”. The interim national unity government which has representatives of the rebel groups was unable to operate for some time while opposition ministers walked out to protest against President Laurent Gbagbo who they accuse of failing to implement all the points of the agreement.
Population: 16.692.000
Christians 31.8% (Catholics 2,717,000)
Animists 37,6%
Muslims 30%
NIGERIA
The return of Democracy in 1999, after years of military rule did not end social, economic and ethnic-religious tension affecting vast areas of the country. The introduction of Muslim law Sharia in some Muslim majority states brought a new element of conflict. Thousands have been killed in periodical explosions of violence often the result of manipulation of social tensions on the part of politicians to exploit religious element for their own ends. Resources such as oil, ever more important for world economy, increase pressure in and on Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with hundreds of different ethnic groups.
Population: 117,838,000
Christians 45.9% (Catholics 17,527,000)
Animists 9.8%
Muslims 43.9%
SOMALIA
When the former dictator Siad Barre was overthrown in January 1991, Somalia collapsed and has been in a state of total anarchy ever since. Militia groups of many different clans and sub-clans divided the territory. Somalia today is divided in at least 3 parts: Somaliland (which has declared its independence), Puntland (which claims autonomy but not succession) and the central-southern region, the most populated and potentially rich which so far as been unable to set up a stable administration.
Population: 9,557,000
Christians 1.4% (Christians 101,881)
Muslims 98.3%
SUDAN
Civil war in southern Sudan between the government and the SPLA/M (Southern Peoples Liberation Movement/Army) started in 1983 when the peoples of the south, mainly Christians and Animists, reacted to the introduction of Sharia Muslim law. In the war more than 2 million people were killed, millions were displaced and the devastation was immense. In May 2004 a peace agreement was reached stipulating an interim government and a period of transition for 6 years and 6 months. However in the meantime violence increased in the western Sudan region of Darfur where rebel groups want the central government to give more attention to the region’s social and economic problems. By way of response the government unleashed harsh repression using air raids and Janjaweed militia. More than one million people have fled their homes because of the violence.
Population: 32,559,000
Christians 16.7% (Catholics 4.181.000)
Animists 11.9%
Muslims 70.3%
UGANDA
In northern Uganda since 1989 the LRA Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group has fought against president Yoweri Museveni. LRA has an ideology based on religious syncretism and is a mixture of Christianity, Islam and elements of traditional African religions. Thousands of Acholi children (the main ethnic group in northern Uganda) have been abducted and forced to fight with the rebels.
Population: 19,321,113
Christians 88.7% (Catholics 10,796,000)
Animists 4.4%
Muslims 5.2%
ASIA
CHINA
In the region of Tibet, annexed by China in the 1950s, Buddhist communities suffer from Chinese occupation and since a revolt in 1959 was repressed by China, the main religious leader, the Dalai Lama has been in exile.
Population: 1.2 billion
Agnostics: 50%
Traditional Chinese religions: 30%
Buddhists: 8.5
Christians: 7%
Other religions: 4.5 %
PHILIPPINES
In Mindanao, the southern most island of the Philippines, most people are Muslims, whereas the rest of the population of the archipelago is mainly Christian.
Since 1970s Muslim separatist groups in Mindanao have fought for autonomy. Since then at least 150,000 people have been killed in fighting between the regular army and various guerrilla groups .
Population: 85 million
Christians: 90% (Catholics 65,000,0000)
Muslims: 6.5%
Other religions: 3.5%
INDIA
For 50 years the disputed border region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan has been the scene of fighting between Indian troops, which control 2/3 of the region, and Islamic rebels backed by Pakistant. In fifty years India and Pakistan have fought three wars over this highly strategic area. Recently there has been an improvement of relations between the two neighbour states.
Population: 1 billion
Hindus: 75%
Muslims: 12%
Christians: 6,5% (Catholics 17.000.000)
Other religions: 6,5%
INDONESIA
In the Moluccas Islands (eastern Indonesia) in 1999 social problems led to clashes between local Christian communities and Muslim immigrants. The Indonesian army intervened and peace was restored. In the violence which spread to all the islands of the Moluccas group, at least 15,000 people were killed and 500,00 were displaced.
Population: 210 million
Muslims: 85%
Christians: 13% (Catholics 6.376.0000)
Other religions: 2%
IRAQ
After the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein, the hand-over of government from the US led Coalition to an Iraqi interim government did not end the situation of instability due to the presence of terrorist groups and claims by certain religious groups, Shiite Muslims in particular.
Population: 25 million
Muslims: 95%
Christians: 3,2% (Catholics 600.000)
Other religions: 1,8 %
ISRAEL/PALESTINE
In the national conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians which has lasted for 50 years, the presence of Muslim and Jewish extremist groups complicates the situation and prevents the stipulation of a lasting peace settlement for the Middle East.
Population: 6,5 million in Israel; 3,5 million in Palestinian Territories
Jews: 77%
Muslims: 12%
Christians: 5.8% (Catholics 115.000)
Other religions: 5.2 %
MYANMAR
The military junta governs with an authoritarian regime and is accused of massive violation of human rights, particularly to repress uprisings by ethnic minority groups.
Population: 47 million
Buddhists: 75%
Christians: 8.3% (Catholics 600,000)
Muslims: 2.4%
Other religions: 14.3 %
NEPAL
Maoist rebels have been fighting King Gyanendra and his constitutional monarchy since 1996. About 8,000 people have been killed so far. Gun battles, robberies, bombings and kidnappings are the order of the day in Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries.
Population: 23 million
Hindus: 75%
Buddhists: 8.5
Muslims: 3.9%
Christians: 2.5% (Catholics 7,000)
Other religions: 10,1%
SRI LANKA
After independence rivalries between the Tamils mainly Hindus and the Sinhalese mainly Buddhists marred progress. Since the 1980s Tamils rebels and Sinhalese in government have fought a civil war. In 2002 a history making cease-fire was signed but a peace agreement has yet to be reached. In twenty years of war in Sri Lanka at least 64,000 people have died and one million have been made homeless.
Population: 19 million
Buddhists: 68%
Hindus: 11%
Muslims: 9%
Christians: 9.5% (Catholics 1,362,000)
Other religions: 2.5%
