African Adventists, Advocates Join Hands to Support Religious Freedom

Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders and advocates launched the All Africa Religious Liberty Association (AARLA) on September 19 during the 4th All Africa Religious Liberty Congress at the Arusha International Conference Center in Arusha, Tanzania.

This landmark event heralds a new era in advocacy for religious freedom across the continent, event organizers said.

AARLA represents a bold step forward, uniting leaders and followers from a myriad religions and Christian denominations, all passionately committed to championing the right to worship freely. Previously functioning as a chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) based in the United States, organization advocates believe that AARLA is poised to amplify the voices of those advocating for freedom of belief throughout Africa.

During the inspiring launch ceremony, Ganoune Diop, secretary general of IRLA and a representative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, presented the operational instruments for AARLA. He captivated the audience with a compelling history of the first religious liberty body, established in 1889. According to Diop, the organization arose in response to a proposed bill in the U.S. Senate that sought to mandate Sunday as a day of worship and declare Christianity the national religion.

The newly formed AARLA board, led by chair and East-Central Africa Division president Blasious Ruguri and secretary general Joel Okindo, is a diverse assembly representing West, Central, and East Africa. Their first official act was to honor two remarkable leaders, chief justice emeritus David Kenani Maraga of Kenya and Diop, both of whom have made significant contributions to advancing religious freedom on both regional and international stages.

Maraga and Diop were presented with the prestigious AARLA Awards 2024 in recognition of their tireless efforts. Furthermore, on Saturday, September 21, a third award was presented to Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, honoring the collective spirit of the Tanzanian people.

The September 16-21 event, themed “Peaceful Coexistence in Africa: The Undeniable Value of Human Conscience,” brought together esteemed scholars and professionals from diverse fields, including law, theology, diplomacy, and governance, alongside high-ranking spiritual leaders from various faiths across Africa.

According to organizers, the gathering brought to the forefront the critical importance of collaboration and dialogue in promoting religious liberty and fostering peaceful coexistence on the continent. “The energy and commitment displayed during this event promise a brighter future for religious freedom in Africa, inspiring hope and unity among its peoples,” they said.