Nairobi -- Archbishop Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican communion, says church and development agencies are deeply concerned about ongoing brutal violence and desperate insecurity in the African Great Lakes region. Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, while visiting Nairobi on 20 July, heard the experiences and concerns of church and international development agency leaders from the region, who renewed their commitment to combating violence and conflict.
"The churches and development agencies acknowledge there have been missed opportunities, false starts and gaps between aspirations and actions," Williams told journalists. "But the will is strong to learn from this and the pressing challenges that now face us."
Before arriving in Nairobi, Williams made a four-day visit to Burundi.
"We hope the church under its new leadership, will continue the great work that it has done for reconciliation and development here [in Burundi]," he was quoted as saying by the Anglican Communion News Service after attending the enthronement of the new Burundi Archbishop, Bernard Ntahoturi in Bujumbura on 17 July.
Kenyan Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi told journalists the leaders had agreed the Church should move to the forefront in regional peace making.
"We want peace in these countries so that people's lives can be improved. But if this is to happen, the churches must get involved," Nzimbi said. "It is a challenge, but we all must start doing something in the area where we come from."
