The Diocese of Egypt and North Africa, includes a vast area with peoples from many cultures and varied religious convictions. Some of the countries in the region have faced many struggles, some in fact are still in difficulty. Egypt is also host to many people who have fled conflict in their country. This report will outline briefly areas of concern to us.
Egypt
Christians number approximately 10 million from a population of 62 million. In many respects, Christians live side by side with their brothers from the Muslim faith. There have been reports of persecution of Christians, of churches being burnt, of Christians being killed, of Christian owned shops robbed or raided. The cry was persecution; but although these attacks were directed at Christians they have also been an attempt by terrorists to shake the stability of the country, hoping, thereby, to bring down the government. These terrorists convince themselves and try to convince others that they follow the Koran. Failing in this goal, they then tried attacking tourists, and then the police. Their acts of violence have alienated most Egyptians.
Sometimes people ask how we see that we have freedom as Christians when we are not permitted to build churches. Christians in Egypt are allowed to worship freely in existing churches. The regulations about building churches date back to 1902, when a special building permit was required. During the last year, the President of Egypt has authorized eleven building permits for the Evangelical Church, and has also given authority to governors to authorize church repairs. We see this as progress.
Refugees.
Egypt has people from a number of countries who have come looking for asylum. People come from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Palestine, and smaller numbers from many African countries. There are no refugee camps in Egypt and so those who are assisted under the international instruments of the UNHCR are living in the cities. All refugees from Somalia have, until recently, been accepted for protection and assistance. Many Palestinians have also been afforded assistance from the international community and from the Egyptian government.
Until recently, refugees from Sudan were not accepted as refugees, since they were able to enter and live in Egypt freely, without special permission. This situation contained blessings and curses. Sudanese refugees could escape the difficult situation in their homeland, but on their arrival in Egypt, international agencies were not willing to help them and they were unable to work, and could not obtain reasonable housing, health care, or education for their children. The churches responded as they were able. The situation has changed in the last two years. Now Sudanese refugees who enter Egypt must obtain a visa. The UNHCR is accepting approximately 40% of those who arrive, and a reasonable number are being resettled in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Those under the UNHCR are assisted with some of their needs while they live in Egypt, but over 50% of the community continue to find life very difficult. All Saints' Episcopal Cathedral in Cairo has programs to provide medical care and other emergency assistance along with some training and job programs. It has been difficult for the churches to rally large scale support, since their operations are limited to the grounds of churches. International NGO's cannot provide services to this community since they are restricted in their operations by the government. Between 50 and 70 Sudanese refugee families are arriving in Cairo each week; this is now a great strain on the limited resources available. Egypt has generally played a helpful role in the Sudanese crisis, but what it is able to do has been limited. Southern Sudanese refugees are generally tolerated, and even if their housing is not up to standard, they are not held in detention for more than a short period and told to update their documents.
Ethiopians in Cairo are now not a priority for the UNHCR. However, there are quite a large number (3,500) who are living here illegally. They are able to obtain relatively good wages as house cleaners and babysitters. If they are located by Egyptian government authorities, they are held in detention until they are able to find someone to pay for their return ticket to Ethiopia. Some still claim that they are unable to return home due to problems they have with their government.
The Anglican presence in other countries of North Africa is not strong. In Algeria we have no chaplain at present, but there is a small congregation. The situation in Algeria is not good in many respects. Militant Islamic groups are still causing great problems for the Algerian government and civilians. The government is accused of violations of human rights in its efforts to remove the influence of the militants. There have been some violent incidents during the year. Multiparty elections are due in April 1999.
In Libya, we have an Anglican chaplain. A range of denominations meet together in the Episcopal Church. The international trade embargo against Libya, imposed after a terrorist bombing incident, attributed to Libyans, brought down an airliner in Scotland several years ago, killing all aboard, is still causing economic hardship in Libya.
In Tunisia, Islam is the state religion but generally the practice of other religions is permitted. However, proselytizing is illegal. There are only a small number of Christians in Tunisia, many of them foreigners. The Anglican Church has a chaplaincy and a number of Christian groups meet together.
Djbouti has a small Christian minority but there is no Anglican chaplaincy. Islam is the state religion. Up to 100,000 refugees and illegal immigrants are in the country, representing about one fifth of the population.
In Somalia, the Anglican Church is unable to operate at present, although in the past we have had a number of projects with street children.
Further details could be discussed at the meeting.
