The bishop of Pemba, Mozambique, has written a highly critical letter questioning the Government’s response to a wave of attacks in Cabo Delgado, allegedly carried out by jihadists, saying that if things remain the same his flock will be unable to fully appreciate the papal visit in September.
The attacks have claimed the lives of more than 200 people over the past 18 months, but no official explanation as to what exactly is going on, or how it will be handled, has been forthcoming.
“Following this long silence of the Government, the people, communities and especially journalists, feel threatened and bullied into silence regarding what they see and hear”, said Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa.
“What are the civil and military authorities hoping to gain through this atmosphere of secrecy and silence? What is the secret they do not want revealed?”, asked the Brazilian born bishop, whose diocese covers the region hardest hit by the attacks.
The bishop posed a number of possible alternative explanations for the violence. “Is there any relation to organ trafficking? Is it due to money laundering? Are the attacks linked to the gem trade? Has our province become a corridor for traffickers of different goods?”, he asked, concluding that “for the sake of truth, and in order to prove the innocence or guilt of those allegedly involved, the facts must be investigated.”
Referring to Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to the country in September, under the motto “peace, reconciliation and hope”, the bishop said his faithful are in no mood to enjoy any of these.
“For a year and a half we’ve been subject to this atmosphere in which it is difficult to speak to the people of ‘hope, peace and reconciliation’, as we prepare to welcome the Holy Father. As long as the people are being instrumentalised by hidden powers which aim to impose their own interests, there will be no peace nor reconciliation, let alone hope”, he said.
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