MUKAZA, March 29 (ABP) – The Association of Evangelicals for Holistic Development in Burundi (AEDB-Burundi) organized, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, a conference-debate for leaders of religious denominations on their role in safeguarding peace and security.
In his opening speech, the head of the department of religious denominations at the ministry in charge of the interior, Désiré Nitunga, stated that the consolidation of peace and security is a shared responsibility, emphasizing that when the country is secure, the entire population also lives in safety.
According to him, there can be no development without security. It is in this context that religious leaders are called upon to teach their followers love of the homeland, the promotion of peace and security in their communities, as well as participation in the country’s development activities.
He also urged church leaders to raise awareness among young people about the consolidation of peace and security, given that youth make up the majority of the population. He praised the role of religious leaders in the moral guidance of the population and encouraged them to continue this mission, while integrating teachings related to peace, security, and development.
For his part, the chairman of the AEDB, Rev. Pastor Audace Baraduhama, indicated that the organization of the said conference followed the observation that many Christians believe that the country’s security is solely the responsibility of administrative authorities. The reality, however, is that the consolidation of peace and security is the responsibility of all citizens.
Mgr Deogratias Shimirimana, who gave a presentation on the church and national security, first explained that security is a multidimensional concept that affects the daily lives of citizens, the stability of institutions, the economy, moral values, education, and the spiritual life of the population. He emphasized that the consolidation of peace and security is a collective responsibility.
Mgr Shimirimana specified that national security corresponds to a country’s ability to protect its territory, its institutions, and its population against internal and external threats, in order to guarantee lasting peace and the country’s development.
He then presented different dimensions of national security, including territorial security, political security, economic security, social security, and individual security.
Regarding social security, he stressed the need to strengthen social cohesion and peaceful coexistence among citizens, calling on religious leaders to be role models in society by promoting peace and unity. He also addressed individual security, emphasizing that each person must feel protected and respected, including within religious communities, where followers must be guided, advised, and protected.
He added that churches and religious denominations must become more involved in conflict resolution, reconciliation, crime prevention, and the promotion of justice and truth. He warned that when a country lacks peace, Christians also suffer the consequences, including violence, poverty, people displacement, and other social problems.
The deputy Inspector General of the Burundi National Police, Emmanuel Ndayiziga, who presented on the role of churches in national security, stated that the majority of Burundians attend churches and trust religious leaders, which facilitates the dissemination of messages related to peace and security through sermons, meetings, awareness campaigns, and media, particularly radio. He thus called on religious leaders to raise awareness among the population about love of the homeland, respect for administrative authorities, and participation in development activities, in order to sustainably strengthen peace and security in the country.
During the discussions, participants highlighted certain issues within Christian families, including polygamy, which disrupts family life and contributes to children wandering in the streets. The participants committed to combating this phenomenon by encouraging heads of households to ensure the well-being of their families and to work toward family stability in order to prevent breakdowns.