Inter-Ecclesiastical Committee for Peace in Angola

Inter-Ecclesiastical Committee for Peace in Angola (Comitè Inter-Eclesial para Paz en Angola or COIEPA)

"The United States focused on supporting independent media and developing journalistic professionalism during the year. In coordination with the Syndicate of Angolan Journalists and the Inter-Ecclesiastical Committee for Peace in Angola, the U.S. Government funded workshops that trained journalists on election coverage, news writing and reporting, ethics, and professional conduct."

"In 1999, the three church umbrella organizations—the Council of Christian Churches of Angola (CICA), the Angolan Evangelical Alliance (AEA) and the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST)—formed the Inter-Ecclesiastical Committee for Peace in Angola (COIEPA), encompassing Protestant and Catholic churches. COIEPA became the key advocacy institution of the Angolan peace movement. The emergence of a peace movement in civil society “helped break down simplistic notions that one either had to be a supporter of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) or of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and in effect created a 'vehicle' for mobilization outside these political structures” (Comerford, in Meijer 2004).9 In fact, the churches offered to mediate between the parties on various occasions but these offers were never taken up by either of the parties to the conflict. The Peace Network (Rede da Paz) was established in 2000, but never gained influence on a national policy level. The greatest impact of the peace movement in Angola was perhaps, as Comerford argues, to initiate a more open dialogue. The peace movement defined its objectives beyond ending the war itself. Although the war in Angola ended militarily, there is further scope for peace building. The challenge is for the movement to reinvent itself in this new context."

COIEPA received $25,500 from the NED in 2003 "To broadcast a twice-weekly, half-hour radio program called the Peace Diary, focused on issues such as peace, justice, and reconciliation and aimed at all Angolans, regardless of their religious or political affiliation." Then the following year they received a further $30,045 "To disseminate information on peace and democracy in Angola. The Committee will use Endowment resources to establish a mini production studio to broadcast 48 radio programs a year on topics such as national reconciliation, the peace process, and the country's democratization."

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 * Dom Zacarias Kamwenho