By Haji Kariuki, Nairobi
Muslim leaders from the Great Lakes Region met in Nairobi last week to identify peaceful means of ending the intractable conflict in the Darfur region and examine the activities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Africa.
The forum was called on the realization that the West "has exhausted all its mechanism" in solving Africa’s conflict without much success.
For one, the Muslim leaders acknowledge that Sudan is an Islamic county and "therefore applying an Islamic approach on the basis of Islamic fundamentals" is most likely to bear fruits of peace and reconciliation "especially coming from Muslim outsiders," said Sheikh Hammad Kassim Mazrui the Chief Kadhi of Kenya.
"As religious leaders with extensive experience in peace making in other parts of the region, we must take a lead and initiate missions to bring peace in Darfur and the wider region, to the exclusion of undue external interference," he said.
He said the conflict in Darfur was a major concern for Muslim in the region and so "it is their obligation to go and investigate the truth of the matter independently and come out with practical solutions that are relevant to the prevailing circumstances."
The western countries involved in Darfur have come under severe criticism for being biased and self-centered
"Much as we appreciate Western support in Darfur crisis, we feel there is lack of fairness on their side especially in terms of media reports," said Sheikh Abdallah Mangalla Luaba, Mufti of DRC.
"The real issue of conflict is not addressed ... thanks to Western media, and therefore it is our duty as religious leaders from Africa to call for African solution to Africa’s problems," said Sheikh Abdallah.
(The writer is a media consultant. hajikaris@yahoo.com)
