Need for understanding” “

“Understanding, collaboration and solidarity”: that’s what Africa is asking of Europe at the present time, according to Cardinal Francis Arinze , Nigerian, prefect of the Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship, who is due to intervene at the meeting organized by COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community), in collaboration with the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM), on the theme “Africa and the European Union: partners in solidarity”,in Lisbon on 27 and 28 February. Caritas Europe, Pax Christi and ICDS (International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity) are also due to hold a related summit in Lisbon on 4-5 April on the theme “From Cairo to Lisbon: EU and Africa together for a new solidarity” (cf. Sir 9/2003 ). We interviewed Cardinal Arinze. The voice of Africa is often ignored, its wars and its poverty forgotten, but not even its positive aspects are familiar. What has this continent new to say in our time? “Though it’s mainly bad news that comes out of Africa, there are also a lot of positive developments, for example the efforts being made to promote harmony in some States with a numerous presence of ethnic groups. In Nigeria, for example, 240 ethnic groups, each with its own language, must learn to function as a single nation. This is also because in the past the frontiers were fixed by colonial powers without any regard for the natural ethnic ties of peoples. Changing those frontiers is now problematic. So in this sense Africa is making progress. Democracy has also grown. Democratic elections have recently been held in Kenya, Senegal and Zambia. These are small signs of freedom. The press too can now write fairly freely in many African countries. The innovative forms of regional cooperation between States, between western and southern Africa, should also be noted. Of course, there’s no shortage of darker sides and civil strife or wars between bordering states, as in central Africa, in the Sudan, in Ivory Coast”. At this point of its history and its socio-political and economic situation, what is Africa asking of Europe? “There’s great need for understanding between Europe and Africa. Understanding in itself means a lot, because understanding the difficulties in which someone else finds himself is in itself a good start. We must also try to help without exercising too much control. Because each State, however small, has its own dignity. Europe must discourage those groups that promote divisions in African countries and seek aid to mount violent rebellions. There’s so much to do in the fields of education, health care, agricultural development, and so much scope for collaboration between the two continents, not only between government agencies but also through the Church, the associations, the NGOs, the medical profession, academics. Europe must also be careful not to impose demographic policies on African families, for example by suggesting that they should not have more than two children. To do so is wrong, because it inflicts damage on the family’s cultural, religious and social traditions and on the African conscience. The key to solve the problem of over-population can only be that of development”. Yet many African countries have suffered from the negative effects of globalization, from the fact that Europe is protectionist and African products less competitive. Moreover, many European countries are exporting arms to Africa. “Of course, Africa has a need for aid from Europe in methods applied to agriculture and trade. Europe ought not to control too much the prices of the raw materials produced in Africa (cocoa, coffee, coconut oil), nor encourage corrupt persons. It cannot be denied that food is in short supply, but there’s never any shortage of weapons. Why? Even the poorest countries in Africa always have very modern weapons at their disposal. From where do they come? Europe – but also North America – ought to pose this question. No country is helped by selling it arms. European countries ought to take ethical principles into consideration and not just commercial interests”. At the level of values, what can Africa teach Europe? And what do African immigrants need? “Africa loves life. In Africa greatness does not consist in what a person has, but what he is. The sense of community, too, is a great African value. The individual is not alone. Africans feel sad when they see an elderly person strolling about with a dog. It’s far better to walk with a child or a grand-child at one’s side. African immigrants in Europe have a need for solidarity, they need to be helped to study, to find a job, and encouraged to return to their own country and bring back with them the skills they have learned. They ought not to abandon Africa merely because they have found a more comfortable life in Europe”.