[Episcopal News Service]
African advocacy groups have sent letters to the ambassadors of African nations on the United Nations Security Council, warning that a war in the Middle East could have devastating economic and political consequences for the countries of the continent.
The letters to the ambassadors of Guinea, Cameroon and Angola urge the African states to stand firm against pressures from the United States and Britain and seek an alternative to war and a peaceful solution to the crisis. 'As African-American leaders and activists we urgently call upon your governments to stand firm against the efforts by the United States, Britain and Spain to undermine the work of the United Nations' weapons inspectors now working in Iraq and to initiate a war against Iraq,' the letters said. The letters were initiated by Africa Action and TransAfrica Forum.
The letters noted that 'at least 81 percent of African-Americans oppose the planned war.' They added that 'Africa, in particular, would suffer significantly from the global economic consequences of war at a time when Africans are facing the truly greatest global threat to human security, namely the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This should be the scourge receiving the attention and resources that have been devoted instead to debating and designing interventions against Iraq.'
Among those who signed the letter were Mary Frances Berry, Danny Glover, Jesse L. Jackson, Joseph Lowrey, Walter Mosley and an array of civic and religious leaders.
A separate letter from the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA), a network of over 200 organizations, said that 'not only will a war against Iraq bring humanitarian catastrophe of great magnitude, it will also create reactions that no one can predict or control. It has the potential to threaten to destabilize African countries politically and it will affect African economies negatively.' The letter was signed by the Rev. Leon Spencer, an Episcopal priest who is co-facilitator of ADNA.
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