Illia Djadi is a human rights expert and strategic analyst with the NGO Open Doors in London. He was in Lomé, the capital of Togo, from February 20 to 24 as the keynote speaker at the fifth seminar organized jointly by the Forum of Christian Media in French-speaking Africa (FOMECAF) and the Swiss association Radio Réveil. This year, 70 participants from 15 African countries gathered for five days to discuss a highly topical issue: "Media, tools for peace in a world in conflict." He paints a rather bleak picture of the situation in sub-Saharan Africa. Interview.
Emmanuel Ziehli (EZ) – The NGO you work for, Open Doors, has just published its index of Christian persecution around the world. What is your assessment of the situation here in sub-Saharan Africa?
Illia Djadi (ID) – When we look at this year's index, and in particular the situation on the ground, we see a growing rise in insecurity and persecution linked to Islamic insurgency. Across Africa, more specifically south of the Sahara, there are a multitude of actors, Islamist groups active in this sub-region, who are affecting peaceful coexistence, which is one of the main sources of persecution. This persecution is violent and affects religious minority communities, particularly Christians.
EZ – In particular, you highlight a correlation between climate change and insecurity. How is this possible?
ID – The Sahel countries, specifically the central Sahel, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, are the most affected countries, to name just three. They have in common that they are among the poorest and that, even in normal times, they are severely affected by climate change in terms of drought and flooding and the resulting famine. These regions face harsh climatic realities that particularly affect the nomadic and pastoral communities that inhabit them. Livestock farming and herding are directly impacted by the scarcity of natural resources. Access to water and pastureland is becoming a source of conflict. The Fulani and Tuareg communities, the most vulnerable groups, are the most affected by the consequences of climate change. Another corollary is that it is members of these same communities who are swelling the ranks of terrorist groups. The most vulnerable are also the most exposed to manipulation, indoctrination, and ultimately recruitment into these groups.
EZ – During this seminar, you stated that these groups do not seem as homogeneous as we in Europe tend to perceive them to be.
ID - When we look at the map of violence, we see that there are a multitude of actors involved. Many armed groups are active. In the Sahel, two groups in particular stand out: the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara on the one hand, and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to Al-Qaeda, on the other. We can therefore see that these two major terrorist families are represented. Beyond the radical Islamist ideology that these two groups have of Islam, they are two opposing actors, two entities that are at war with each other and fighting a fratricidal war with the aim of securing control of these areas in order to establish a "caliphate." Controlling the roads in these regions allows all kinds of trafficking to flourish. A criminal economy has developed in regions that have become "lawless," where drug trafficking, human trafficking, tobacco trafficking, and arms trafficking are rampant. This criminal economy is very lucrative and finances the activities of these groups. They therefore clash to secure control of these resources.
EZ – Beyond the destruction of the social fabric and this "living together," you go so far as to warn of an existential threat to certain countries. Aren't you exaggerating a little?
ID - We must not fear words, but rather accurately assess the situation on the ground and what is really happening there. Today, the communities that populate these regions, whether Christian or Muslim, have a centuries-old tradition of living in peace with one another. There is a long tradition of social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, which is unfortunately under threat today. Jihadist groups are stirring up latent local conflicts and social divisions, amplifying and exploiting them by fueling division. We are now seeing these groups gaining ground in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and their territorial occupation is a cause for grave concern. More than 40% of Burkina Faso's territory is now under the control of terrorist groups.
EZ – Within these "occupied" territories, what are the primary targets of these terrorist groups?
These groups share a common Islamic ideology, which they profess, that of "wanting to establish an Islamic state." They therefore primarily attack Christians, i.e., non-Muslims. But they also attack so-called "moderate" Muslims who do not share this radical interpretation of Islam. They also attack schools, which they see as synonymous with Western Christian education. The name of one of these groups, the sadly well-known "Boko Haram," which literally translates from Arabic as "Western education is forbidden" or "school is forbidden," reflects their intentions. When we consider the central Sahel, which I mention quite often, namely the area hardest hit by terrorist activities, we realize that in Burkina Faso, for example, 6,000 schools are now closed. One million children are out of school. This situation raises fears of a domino effect, whereby within a year or two these vulnerable children will swell the ranks of terrorist groups. They are easy prey for indoctrination. It is urgent to respond to this situation.
EZ – You are also a member of FOMECAF's leadership and a former BBC journalist for Africa. Do you really think that the media can contribute to peace in this region?
ID – Africa's recent history, and more specifically the evolution of the media, shows that they are powerful tools. This is particularly true of radio, which is Africa's medium of choice. Despite the advent of social media and other types of media, it remains the dominant means of communication. I would cite the destructive role played during the genocide in Rwanda by Radio and Television Mille Collines, which stirred up hatred and led to acts that many later regretted. In 2023 , we would like to say , "Never again!" Radio can play a constructive and peaceful role, promoting peace and harmonious coexistence. This is the reason for the choice of theme for the FOMECAF seminar in 2023. What can their contribution be? I firmly believe that the media and media professionals have a role to play! That is why they have been called upon here in Lomé for a week. The media must be able to play their part and use these powerful communication tools, which have an influence on communities, to send a message of peace. We must not leave the field empty and allow others to occupy it. Jihadist groups make concrete use of communication to influence, recruit, indoctrinate, and spread a message of hatred and violence. We believe that we can reverse this trend by making good use of the media, particularly with a view to promoting peaceful coexistence.
EZ – At the end of this seminar, are you confident that the journalists and other specialists you have met here in Lomé will be able to meet the challenges of the coming years?
ID – The main objective was first to raise awareness and draw attention to what is really happening. Are you aware of this? I can say without fear of contradiction that the message has got through! Awareness of a problem must now lead to a vision and the implementation of an action plan. We need to work on developing coordinated strategies that involve capacity building and promoting a message of peace. We need to train true media professionals who are capable of providing balanced coverage, particularly when it comes to separating fact from fiction. God alone knows how much misinformation is a major concern today. The professionalism of the media, but above all of trained individuals working with appropriate equipment, will enable them to face the challenges they face. This is therefore a process of which thefifth edition of these meetings is only the beginning.
EZ – The Forum of Christian Media in French-speaking Africa (FOMECAF) has revised its priorities for 2023 and plans to organize a seminar in Ouagadougou. What is the motivation behind this decision?
ID – It is a logical choice and the result of discussions held on the sidelines of this meeting. The situation has been assessed and the map has been drawn up. FOMECAF officials have realized that Burkina Faso has been hit so hard that its very existence is threatened. The country has lost more than 40% of its territory to jihadist groups. We want an adequate response to the urgency of this situation. Our presence will undoubtedly not solve all the problems of the Burkinabe people. We want to be there to tell them that we are aware of their pain and that we sympathize with their trauma. Being in Ouagadougou sends a signal, a message of compassion, but also creates an opportunity for as many media professionals as possible to participate in the meeting, be equipped, and then play a decisive role in their own context. We want to offer them the opportunity to be agents of peace through their media.
EZ – Following the publication last December of the persecution index by your NGO Open Doors, you had a very special meeting in an evangelical church in London with King Charles III of England. What memories do you have of that?
ID – First of all, it was an honor to meet such a prominent figure. Seeing someone like him take an interest in and listen to persecuted Christians, sensitive to the harsh realities faced by these communities affected by fundamentalism and Islamist insurgency, filled me with joy. My message to King Charles III of England was to draw his attention to the urgency of the situation.
There is an urgent crisis in the Sahel today. The very existence of the Sahel countries, more specifically the central Sahel, is under threat. This region has become the new epicenter of global jihadism. We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions. In Burkina Faso, there are already more than 2 million internally displaced persons! Compared to other major crises such as Afghanistan or the Middle East, where international coalitions have been formed to fight the Taliban or Daesh, there is no such mobilization for the Sahel. The level of attention is not the same, and there is a real fear that this crisis will be forgotten despite its urgency. That was my message to this great leader who has the power to influence.
We must act now. We must take an interest in the situation in the Sahel. It is a question of regional security, of course, but above all of international security. The stakes are global. The impact of this crisis could spread to the entire continent. We are already seeing conflicts spreading to countries such as Nigeria. This country is the "United States of Africa," the continent's leading economic power and most populous country, with over 200 million inhabitants. Imagine if Nigeria collapsed as a state! We would see a major crisis that would affect the whole of Africa and also reach Europe. Think about it in terms of immigration, security, but also in terms of drug trafficking, which is plaguing Africa. Due to governance issues and the vacuum left by failed states, drug routes from Latin America and other countries pass through Africa. These drugs then end up on the European market and are consumed in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe. We must stop this trafficking and take action to solve the problem at its source.
EZ – This meeting with King Charles III of England took place in an Ethiopian church. Why was this location chosen?
ID – It is a powerful symbol and a choice that is not insignificant. When we consider the situation in Ethiopia, and more particularly in Eritrea, a country in the throes of a humanitarian crisis and unprecedented violence affecting thousands of people, it sends a strong message to persecuted Christians in East Africa. Eritrea remains one of the countries most affected in terms of persecution. It is often referred to as "the North Korea of Africa," where religious minorities, particularly Christians, suffer state persecution. Organizing this service in this community was a message to persecuted Christians that we sympathize with them and that we stand with them. Seeing the joy that the choice of this diaspora church in London brought was heartwarming. It boosted their morale. But beyond that, this message was sent to the entire church in East Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. In the face of terrorism that affects community life, in the face of persecution that affects you so harshly, know that you are not alone!
Photo credit: Koudousse Moustapha – KDS – 2023
