For Immediate Release

July 7, 2011

WEA-RLC has learnt that at least six churches were attacked during the recent protests over constitutional amendments in Senegal in West Africa. These attacks in the national capital of Dakar are worrisome and puzzling, as this Muslim-majority country is seen as a model of tolerance and religious co-existence.

Protests erupted on June 23 after President Abdoulaye Wade made an attempt at what the civil society and political opposition called a “constitutional coup.” His government introduced a bill seeking constitutional amendment reducing the requirement of at least 50 percent votes to become President to 25 percent so that Wade, in power for 11 years, could remain in office.

“The protests had nothing to do with the churches that were attacked,” Executive Director Godfrey Yogarajah said. “It is also clear,” Godfrey added, “that the attacks were not spontaneous; they were planned and organized taking advantage of the protests. How else do you make sense of mobs launching attacks on six churches when there was absolutely no immediate provocation?”

Local sources have told WEA-RLC that the mobs targeted new churches including Pentecostal and Baptist, which are growing in the country. The Roman Catholic Church is seen as a traditional organization in Senegal, but some Protestant congregations are accused of having links with foreign groups and are therefore seen with suspicion.

While churches have been attacked in the country in the past, violence of this scale is a new development. Sufi Islam, to which the majority of Senegal’s Muslims belong, is widely believed to be tolerant. Over 90 percent of the 12.5 million people in the country are Muslim.

Abdoul Aziz Kebe, an Imam at a Dakar mosque and Professor of Islamology at Cheikh anta Diop University, condemned the violence, stressing that Islam calls for peaceful relations between Muslims and members of other religions, according to West Africa Democracy Radio.

“It is worrisome that no one, not even the government, has a clue who the attackers were although the attacks raise many questions. Does that mean a section of the Sufi Muslims have become extremist? If so, is a foreign group behind it or some insiders are promoting radical Islam? Who is their leader? What is the strength of this new grouping and what are their plans?” Godfrey said.

WEA-RLC urges the government to ensure religious freedom for all Christian and other groups, to investigate all aspects of the violence to nip in the bud the efforts to radicalise sections of the local Muslims, and to abstain from violently repressing the protests which will only lead to a state of anarchy in the country.

For further information please contact Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director, at wearlc@sltnet.lk, or visit http://www.worldevangelicals.org/commissions/rlc/.

The Religious Liberty Commission is monitoring the religious liberty situation in more than 100 nations, defending persecuted Christians, informing the global church, challenging the Church to pray (www.idop.org) and giving all possible assistance to those who are suffering. The Commission also makes fact-finding trips and meets with governments and ambassadors speaking up for the suffering brothers and sisters. At the United Nations, the Commission reports about the situation and arranges special hearings with Christians from countries under pressure.

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Note: Original article is in French and has been machine translated into English.

The leaders of the ransacked and/or set on fire churches call their faithful to remain calm and be tolerant, and ask the Sénégalaises authorities to protect the places of worship.

The religious leaders activate themselves to calm the spirits and to alleviate the tensions. L’ Association of the Churches and Ministères Pentecôtistes of Senegal (AEMPS) called the faithful Christians to calm and forgiveness.
It invited those which attack the places of worships to cease the attacks. This association whose all the 5 attacked churches are members also invited the faithful Moslems, Christians and all the population to observe the religious tolerance of which Senegal always been evident.

” We exhorted everyone, religious authorities but also our faithful to not to replicate” affirmed Pasteur Louis Louhaya, general secretary of l’ AEMPS. ”

It is necessary to forgive, that is the message of our Jesus Lord, we have that in our heart and we will live with that” he added.

The leaders Pentecotists finally asked the Sénégalaises authorities to dissuade the authors from these attacks and to take care of the protection of the places of worships. ”

I exhort them to do everything to take care of the safety of the people and property” said Bishop Abdoulaye Ba, president of l’ AEMPS. ”

With my Senegalese brothers (…), Senegal does not deserve that, we know only peace and the téranga, let us exert what our ancestors have us bequeathed” it has concludes.

Read original article published in French by WADR here…

Les leaders Chrétiens appellent au calme et invitent au pardon et à la tolérance au Sénégal by WADR. Uploaded with Newscoop

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Pastor A who went through the training will also start the 1st principle in Mbour, and Fissel.  The church in Dakar bought a Motorcycle for Pastor A to help accomplish this work.”

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The situation was very serious. Before anything could be done to stop the water temporarily half of the rugs in the church were soaked in toilet water and had to be taken out. It was decided that the team on the ground could handle the situation and there was no need to disturb the Bishop. Everyone immediately got to work cutting the soiled rugs out and taking them for cleaning. Capping the hole temporarily until the people in charge of this kind of problem could be contacted. The next day the government team in charge was contacted and the situation was put under control. However God was with us. Everything was done on time for our regular service to be held on Sunday.

Read more about this multipurpose building that hosts a 150+ member church, Bible College & Seminary, student and staff housing and micro-enterprise beauty salon.

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ANALYSIS: The following is the preliminary reasons for the ceiling collapse. During the extreme rains in August 2005 the building took in tons of rainwater that was not able to drain from the building. This was caused by the lack of drainage outlets and building style. Because the water could not drain fast enough from the building it migrated through the walls creating the cracks in the structure and the collapsed ceiling.

SHORT-TERM SOLUTION : After a critical examination of the situation he came to the conclusion that short-term emergency repairs should quickly be put into place before the heavy rains this year. He recommended using penetrating sealing on the entire outside of the building where water could affect, while sealing cracks and holes with cement, and tearing down or re-roofing the stairways. Further he called for large drainage pipes to be placed along side the walls for water to drain off the building as soon as it rains. As for long-term solutions he called for the entire top floor to be cover or if necessary replace the building.

DONE board member the Reverend Patrick Novak came from the United States to join Dick for a final analysis and implementation of the short-term solutions. Together they had the chance to talk with local masons and sealing experts to get an insight of the kind of materials that could be purchased locally. Before leaving for the United States Reverend Novak conferred with the DONE Board and money was immediately allocated for repairs. The short-term repairs have the building in a better condition to withstand the coming rainy season.

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As we indicated in previous reports last year, we noticed hundreds of little cracks throughout the building during the raining season. Senegal experienced torrential rain and flooding in September 2005 (read previous reports). These building cracks appear to be growing worse daily and the building will need additional repairs prior to the rainy season beginning in July. More Pictures Here.

During the Palm Sunday service we began to hear a strange creaking sound and noticed that the ceiling of the church; which is also the floor of the Head Office and School suddenly beginning to sink in. Loose blocks felt out and the service ended in disarray.

Initial reports and observations believed the cracks to be cosmetic and not structural. Local builders were called in to immediately access the situation and the ceiling was immediately supported with iron braces. This was done to ensure the ceiling would not collapse further until it could be shored up with permanent bracing. College classes were suspended for two weeks to reduce weight on the ceiling and repairs are in progress.

The braces are expected to hold the building, while repairs work is being carried out. With the braces and construction work being carried out, we continued to worship and hold services there. This has frightened about 25% of our congregation and they are not coming to church any more for fear that the ceiling might collapse prematurely. Bracing started immediately, however due to many factors, the work is progressing slowly.

About the Parcelles Assainies church: Situated between four mosques in Dakar, Senegal the congregation has grown to 150+ members. The church is located in the DONE West African headquarters that houses offices, Bible College, staff, students and guests. The Republic of Senegal is over 90% Muslim and the Parcelles Assaines church is a beacon of light in the capitol of Dakar with 3-4 million inhabitants.

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Dakar, Senegal

Whenever it rains some people and communities spend tireless days and sleepless nights in the cold pouring out gallons of water from their homes. Homes and personal effects have been destroyed with major roads leading within the city are damaged or cutoff. The West African Headquarters of D.O.N.E. Inc. was no exception to the damaged caused as a result of continued rainfall. The church, offices and some apartments were flooded by the rainstorm. However we count it all joy and thanked the Lord for His blessings and protection over our lives and the ministry. We praise the Lord for this ministry and for who He is. Although some of our members have been made homeless by the flooding we as a church and ministry sustained no major damage to properties compared to our neighbors.

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