Nairobi, Kenya
Christian leaders in Africa are praying for peace between Ukraine and Russia, saying the conflict is impacting food security in Africa as both countries are essential grain and oil crude exporters to the continent.
Women at a roadside marketplace around Kibale, Uganda. PICTURE: NeilsPhotography (licensed under CC BY 2.0)
In Uganda, clerics said the war has led to the shortage of gas and fuel accompanied by high prices of other commodities such as cooking oil, rice, sugar, bread, milk, and other items.
“We cannot continue to watch people sleeping hungry because they can’t afford essential commodities due to high food prices,” said Pastor Stephen Okello, of Kayonge Pentecostal Church in Kampala. “The war between Ukraine and Russia has escalated the situation. We want to pray that God brings peace between the two countries so that our people’s lives resume normal.”
A mini-survey of retail shops and gas stations carried out by Sight last week indicated that gasoline prices in Kampala have jumped about 19 per cent since the start of the year to an average of 5,300 shillings ($US1.51) per litre. The cost of cooking oil per litre rose from $US2.50 to $US4.
John Baptist Odama, the Catholic Archbishop of Gulu Diocese in northern Uganda, said the country, which is struggling to recover from the impacts of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and a worsening climate crisis, has further been hit hard by the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
Archbishop Odama said the conflict between the two countries has disrupted the supply of crude oil, cereals such as corn, wheat, and sunflower oil, and essential metals like aluminum and nickel.
“The disruptions of supply chains have caused commodity prices to rise, thus affecting the lives of most people in the country,” he said.
The archbishop sympathised with people in Ukraine who were dying and suffering because of selfishness and greed, warning that the situation could escalate into World War III.
John Baptist Odama, of the Archdiocese of Gulu, is leading other clerics in Uganda to pray for peace between Ukraine and Russia. PICTURE: Tonny Onyulo.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February after several days of building up soldiers on the country’s border. The conflict has caused extreme human suffering, with thousands of civilians losing their lives and millions displaced.
Archbishop Odama said clerics and congregants have been gathering in various parishes in northern Uganda to pray for peace. He said church leaders pray, meditate, read the word of God, and seek God’s intervention for peace to prevail between the warring parties.
“I want to urge the two countries to stop the war and embrace peace. They should talk to each other and think about the innocent people. It’s painful to see lives being lost in a situation that could have been prevented between the warring parties,” he said. “The war will affect the economy of Africa if the problem is not contained. I urge people to continue praying until a solution is found.”
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In South Africa, Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, has been appealing for Christians, especially those in his congregation, to pray for peace to prevail in Ukraine. He has been urging global leaders to initiate peace between the two warring parties to avert the killing of innocent people.
“Let’s unite and pray for Ukraine and Russia and the civilians suffering from the war,” he said. “It’s sad people continue to die daily. There must be a solution to this problem. Global leaders should start a peace initiative to ensure the war ends immediately.”
In Kenya, Pastor Anthony Maiga said the Ukraine-Russia conflict had put Kenyans in danger of high food prices despite the economic impact the country has gone through due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenya depends on imports such as wheat and crude oil from both countries, and the conflict has resulted in the rise in the cost of bread, ugali, oil, fertiliser and machines for production.
Pastor Maiga also said the sanctions imposed on Moscow by Western nations have also affected the country economically. He said the country could not export flowers, tea, fruits, and coffee to Russia.
“As religious leaders, we want to urge the government to condemn what is happening in Ukraine and be involved in the peace process,” said Maiga, who oversees the United Methodist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. “We can’t sit and watch the way people are being murdered due to the war and its impact on our country. We continue to pray for peace and look forward to immediate reconciliation between the two warring countries.”
