The effects of War and Ethnicity on Christian-Muslim relations among South Sudanese in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This dissertation is about the ethnicity and war on Christian-Muslim Relations among South Sudanese in Nairobi. The two religions, Christianity and Islam has been the main focus in both Sudans, but currently, ethnicity has taken shape among south Sudanese in the Diaspora. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate how the ethnicity and war has affected Christian-Muslim relations among South Sudanese refugees in Nairobi. The research adopted the descriptive research design and used a sample of 60 respondents. The study respondents were mainly spiritual leaders selected from South Sudanese churches in Nairobi and the Jamia Mosque. Research data was gathered using questionnaires and thereafter the data was analyzed using content analysis techniques. The findings have shown that the causes of war and ethnicity in South Sudan are power struggle among the political leaders along ethnic lines. The leaders have succeeded in drumming support from their ethnic kin in order to consolidate the grasp on power. Other causes blamed for war and ethnicity in county are the low literacy levels among the populations. This illiteracy is common among all communities and regions in South Sudan and has ensured that the elite and educated political leaders can easily manipulate the masses to follow and support them without encountering any challenge of resistance from the illiterate people. Other factors that have contributed to the war in South Sudan include corruption, patronage, impunity, militarization and arm proliferation. While the majority of respondents acknowledged that South Sudan population is dominated by people who confess the Christian faith, it also has a number of Muslims that profess the Islam faith. There is open mistrust among the followers of the two religions, with Christian being suspicious of the Muslims and vice versa. This mistrust originated from the civil war that pitted the Muslim Northerners and the Christian southerners and was reinforced by the introduction of Sharia Law by government that was then controlled by the Muslims from North Sudan. This mistrust is not only confined to South Sudan but has spilled over to the neighbouring countries where many south Sudanese are living as refugee camps. The Christian/Muslim mistrust has been witnessed at the Kakuma Refugee Camp (KRC) where there have been frequent conflicts along religious and ethnic lines. Majority of respondents indicated that the war in South Sudan has affected the Christian-Muslim relations negatively by instilling hatred among the two religions. According to majority of the respondents the ethnic war in South Sudan has planted the seeds of hatred among the South Sudanese whereby even when there are in foreign countries as refugees that still do not trust each other even though they originated from the same country. The war has caused trauma among the refugees in Kenya which has resulted in conflicts among south Sudanese refugees from different ethnic backgrounds. These conflicts have been common at the Kakuma Refugee Camp and which have necessitated the holding of peace and reconciliation meetings within the camp organized by various humanitarian organizations. Majority of the refugees have been psychologically affected and to date some are still traumatized. They cannot forget the atrocities caused to them and their loved ones. Some refugees feel that it is their tribesmen that are being targeted and this makes them feel unsafe wherever they are. Majority of the respondents agreed that the ethnic war in South Sudan has divided the religious community between tribes that are fighting. Among South Sudanese citizens, conflict has affected to the point where people do not worship together. Even Christians from different ethnic backgrounds do not worship together because of the mistrust caused by the war. It is now common to find churches whose congregation a purely from one South Sudanese ethnic group. This practice of one ethnic group and one church is evident in urban centres in Kenya as well as within the Kakuma Refugee camp. The war has impacted negatively the Christian-Muslim relations and the brotherhood relationship and the love that existed before is no more and hatred has thrived between the Christian and Muslims. The war has brought about identity concealment and people living in denial of the situation and loss of trust for other tribes. It is recommended that Christian and Islamic leaders should play a key reconciliatory role in reconciling Christians and Muslims within the refugee community. A council of leaders within the refugee community needs to be formed and which brings together elders from all ethnic groups. The council of elders will play a mediating role wherever there is inter-ethnic conflict. Youth should form youth groups in their respective ethnic groups and organize sports tournaments and cultural activities which will help the youth to bond together and create friendship. On their part women can form women groups that include women from all religions and ethnic groups. These women groups can be used as avenues to undertake joint businesses and organizing meetings to be used as forums for preaching peace and reconciliation. Interreligious dialogue should be initiated at the all localities in the country. . National government politicians and the states leaders should united and encourage the youth and women to adopt tolerance peaceful co-existence across the country. The States and the Church should be the one taking the role of civic education in the country that will enhance unity within the country and outside as well and they should champion for the dialogue base on love, tolerance, mutual respects of one ethnic and religion.