African activists honored with Aachen Peace Prize

Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga and Islamic spiritual leader Imam Kobine Layama of the Central African Republic, and student activists Rakotonirina Mandimbihery Anjaralova, Lumbela Azarias Zacarias and Balorbey Theophilus Oklu (activists pictured above) were honored with the peace prize in Germany's southwestern city of Aachen on Tuesday.

Nzapalainga and Layama were honored for their engagement in the Central African Republic's peace process. The two leaders have been mobilizing their respective communities towards a peaceful solution to conflict in their country, one of the poorest in the world.

The three student volunteers from Madagascar, Mozambique and Ghana were recognized for their efforts in working with refugees who were stranded in Oujda, a city in Morocco. The students were being financed by an evangelical church and were helping homeless migrants with water, food and medicines.

Applause for the winners

Speaking in her laudatory address at the ceremony in Aachen, theologist and former bishop Margot Kässmann said the winners were shining examples of humanitarian behavior in a world that was increasingly becoming inhuman.

She accused the European Union of tolerating human rights violations at its borders. "I am ashamed, it angers me, we need to stand up for solidarity and humanity," she said. Criticizing EU countries which were doing everything to keep refugees away, Kässmann warned that Europe was throwing away its achievements, for which the EU was once honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

The German conference of bishops said the awarding of the Aachen prize was a proof of the enormous potential for peace within religions. The Catholic social welfare organization "missio," which supports the two religious leaders Nzapalainga and Layama in the Central African Republic, said the prize was encouragement for implementing projects that worked for the dignity of migrants.

The Aachen Peace Prize is awarded to people who work towards peace and achieving more understanding between different cultures. The award, which carries a symbolic sum of 1000 euros ($1130), is traditionally given on September 1 every year since 1988.

mg/jr (epd, KNA)