Church and Politics in Africa # 1:Coups, Contested Elections, Illiberal democracies, social unrest, poverty in Africa... how can the Church help?

African Catholic Voices

Jesuit priest, social anthropologist, and social justice advocate, Fr Ludovic Lado and emerging African political theologian, Fr William Orbih address the current political situation in Africa. They help us understand why there is so much unrest, some many military takeovers of governments, and shrinking political and economic freedom in many African countries. Orbih calls for 'a culture of protest' to resist the exploitation and manipulation of everyday people by politicians; while Lado calls on the Catholic Church in Africa to stand with the poor and the oppressed in the continent in standing up against bad governance and illiberal democracies in Africa. The church, Lado, proposes is becoming compromised in some African countries. Both guests call on the churches in Africa to make common cause with the poor in the pursuit of social justice. All Christians and indeed all Africans must commit to the task of rebuilding Africa on the foundations of fraternity, good governance, solidarity, social transformation, justice and peace.