Tragic accident in Tanzania: Blaise Gaitou has passed away.
Pontarlier, February 28, 2024
It is with deep sadness that Youth With A Mission (YWAM) announces the death of eleven of its members in a road accident on Saturday, February 24, near Arusha, Tanzania.
A truck without brakes crashed into several vehicles, including a bus carrying participants to a leadership seminar. The toll was heavy: 25 people lost their lives, including eleven members of YWAM. Among the victims were Blaise Gaitou, a member of the FOMECAF leadership, and three people who had participated in activities initiated by the Radio Réveil association in French-speaking Africa.
Blaise Gaitou played a crucial role in the development and success of our organization's activities in French-speaking Africa. From 2016 to 2018, he was a driving force behind our presence in Niamey, Niger. His commitment and expertise enabled us to forge lasting links with local stakeholders and launch promising initiatives. In 2019, he then made a significant contribution to the establishment of our organization in Lomé, Togo. His involvement in the creation of FOMECAF was decisive, as were his interventions and training sessions with numerous African media professionals.
Blaise Gaitou, craftsman of community life
In Niger, Blaise, who was Muslim, was a true champion of peaceful coexistence. He played a key role as a mediator between different communities and was passionately committed to promoting interfaith dialogue. Alongside his other activities, Blaise hosted a program on the secular radio station Nagarta in Maradi, in eastern Niger. This program, which was supported for a time by our association, enabled him to reach a wide audience and share his thoughts on important social and cultural issues.
Blaise's passing is an immense loss for our organization and for the entire community of media professionals in French-speaking Africa. We honor his memory and pledge to continue his work with the same passion and dedication.
Need for prayers
The Médias Ebène association extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims, especially to Jeannette, Blaise's wife, and their two children. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of profound grief.
Joële Zeller, leader of YWAM's children's movement, "Les Fabricants de Joie" (The Joy Makers), was also seriously injured in the accident. She is currently being repatriated to Switzerland by air ambulance. We ask for your prayers for her recovery and for the support of her family.
Guy Zeller, her husband, who was in a bus behind the one involved in the accident, was not physically injured but witnessed the tragedy. We offer him our full support.
Emmanuel Ziehli, President
Listen again to Blaise Gaitou interviewed by Serge Carrel
https://radioreveil.ch/episode/blaise-gaitou-il-y-avait-jesus-dans-mon-reve/
FOMECAF press release:
https://medias.africa/2024/02/25/communique-du-fomecaf/
Tribute to Blaise Gaitou:
https://medias.africa/2024/02/26/blaise-gaitou-lhomme-qui-vivait-la-foi-chretienne/
More about the accident: https://www.letemps.ch/monde/au-moins-25-personnes-tuees-dans-un-accident-routier-en-tanzanie-une-suissesse-blessee
On the morning of the accident, Blaise posted this encouraging message on his Facebook account. We'll leave it to you:
"AFTER YOU HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, YOU WILL STAND." Ephesians 6:13, PDV
Three formidable weapons to defeat the enemy:
- The shield of faith: Imagine the settlers' wagons surrounded by the Indians' flaming arrows. It's impossible to fight fire and the enemy at the same time! The arrows are a diabolical diversion. Satan uses the same strategy. But faith in God's Word extinguishes his flaming arrows.
- The helmet of salvation: Protect your mind! When faced with doubts instilled by Satan, respond with confidence in your identity in Christ: a redeemed, forgiven child of God, righteous and a citizen of heaven.
- The sword of the Spirit, the word of God: This is not the written logos, but the rhema, the spoken word. Proclaim the Word of God to defeat Satan! Remember, he tempted Jesus three times in the desert, and three times Jesus repelled him with "It is written" (Matthew 4:4-10). The Word of God is his lethal weapon!
