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Mail & Guardian
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
How US conservatives use religious outreach to shape African policy
The underlying message being pushed is a narrow, conservative ideology: Be, heterosexual, traditional. Reject feminism. Reject LGBTQ rights. Photo: Antonio Bronic/Reuters On 26 and 27 June, the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown On the surface, it was a celebration of unity. Beneath it, though, lay a strategic campaign by a US-based religious organisation to embed a specific brand of conservative American theology into African cultural narratives. The soft language of empowerment masked an ideological demand. This isn't new. In 2024, LDS held Preaching power through local mouthpieces What made the Freetown event especially effective was its reliance on local voices to legitimise its message. From the opening to to the closing prayer, the conference amplified a Mormon worldview through African public figures On day 1, LDS Elder Kenneth Pambu opened with inclusive-sounding language: 'Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and caring home.' But his definition of the ideal family quickly narrowed: a heterosexual, nuclear unit rooted in divine order, guided by strict gender roles. Later, a speaker warned, 'The digital world is teaching our children values we do not agree with.' The message was clear. Modernity equals danger. Tradition, as defined by the Mormons, equals safety. Catholic Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles echoed rhetoric from the 2019 Ghana conference, warning of a curriculum that 'sexualises' students and condemning foreign aid tied to LGBTQ rights. The crowd cheered. An Islamic leader added, 'Family is a combination between a male and a female. There is no he, she or she-he.' Cloaked in cultural pride, this rhetoric erased all Sierra Leoneans outside the sexual or gender binary. It's a recurring pattern. One group of wealthy white outsiders empowers local conservatives to criticise another group of white outsiders for allegedly corrupting African values. The irony is met not with resistance but with applause. First lady Fatima Maada Bio, a popular figure praised for her advocacy for women and girls, framed the event as a national imperative. 'This partnership is not just about religion. It's about restoring hope, dignity and values.' Her announcement of a new safe house for survivors of gender-based violence, an LDS–first lady collaboration, was met with thunderous applause. Such a resource is vital. Yet its framing raised questions. Will women have to accept Mormon doctrine to access lifesaving services? Will only certain women — married, respectable, God-fearing — be welcomed? A digital Trojan horse The LDS church is strategic in Africa. It does not lead with doctrine. It leads with scholarships, media, partnerships and food drives. From glossy brochures to high-definition testimonials, it appears tech-savvy and community-minded. But beneath the polish is a clear ideology. Be faithful, obedient, heterosexual, traditional. Reject feminism. Reject LGBTQ rights. Reject sex education and intellectual inquiry. Focus on your family and stay quiet about policy shifts and corruption. The LDS church doesn't attack activism outright. It elevates modesty, family and tradition as cultural revival. To question this is framed as rejecting your roots. This is not overt coercion. It is something more insidious — a foreign ideology dressed in local attire. An imported theology, marketed as a return to African values. The conference didn't just celebrate families. It defined them. And, in doing so, it excluded structures and identities that don't fit LDS or conservative norms. The real cost of moral policing Let's be clear. This is not an argument against faith. Religion remains a cornerstone of African life. It can uplift, protect and unify. But when faith becomes a vessel for narrow definitions of womanhood, family and morality, it ceases to be spiritual. It becomes political. And when it defines who is worthy of protection, who is moral and who is 'truly African', it becomes a neocolonial tool of division. This should concern all of us. The danger of what we saw at the Freetown conference lies not only in what's said but in what's omitted: the single mother, the blended family, the outspoken or non-conformist child. When these realities are erased, the LDS church isn't just shaping culture. It is scripting the future. Who suffers when the future being built in our name doesn't reflect us at all? The next 'strengthening families' conference is scheduled for Liberia in June 2026. If Freetown was any indication, our Liberian colleagues must luk insai dis tin ya so (examine something closely). Ask who is speaking to us. Who is speaking for us? And what harm will be caused by what is left unsaid? Mina Bilkis is a feminist storyteller and digital rights researcher in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Famia Nkansa is a writer, editor and communications consultant.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio Hosts Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank Delegation, Commits to Strengthen Regional Investment Collaboration
The President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr George Agyekum Donkor, has paid a courtesy visit on His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio at his state house office, where he noted that 'Your Excellency, all macroeconomic indicators have been doing well. A sign that your government is doing well. Congratulations.' The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development is the leading regional investment and development bank, owned by the fifteen-member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Introducing the delegation to the President, the Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, revealed that the team is in the country based on an initial engagement the bank president had with President Bio, where an open invitation was extended for his visit to Sierra Leone. In his address, the Bank President congratulated President Bio on his recent appointment as chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority. 'Your Excellency, I want to thank you for the warm hospitality my team and I received in Sierra Leone. I also want to formally congratulate you on your position in the high office at ECOWAS.' He said. 'Your appointment is an endorsement of your leadership to deliver and the quality you have to lead the region at a time like this, when it is volatile. But we are sure that you are going to deliver,' he assured. He confirmed the Bank's commitment and full support towards ensuring that President Bio succeeds during his tenure at ECOWAS. Dr Donkor revealed that since they arrived in the country, they have met with key ministers of government and have already started conversations on key areas, including roads, tourism, infrastructure, and education, among others, noting that during their stay in the country, they will also be engaging key sector ministers for tangible investment areas. The bank president pleaded with President Bio in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governance to assist the bank in ensuring it maintains its status as a non-political entity in the sub-region. This, according to the Bank, will help it develop and expand its reach, hence position itself to undertake more development projects in the sub-region. While welcoming the Bank President and team to Freetown, President Julius Maada Bio thanked the Bank President for fulfilling his promise made during their engagement on the margins the ECOWAS Summit, where he personally requested the visit in order for the bank to deepen its ties with Sierra Leone. The President expressed hope that during their visit, the bank will be able to engage several sectors, so it will identify outstanding issues that are within its scope. The President expressed his concern about regional economic integration for Sierra Leone and other countries in a wide range of areas because, according to him, 'West Africa has great potential, which we want to not only develop but also tap into for our future.' The President reaffirmed Sierra Leone's commitment to deepening its relationship with the bank, revealing that the University of Kono is one of the top priorities on his agenda, and needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. In terms of roads, President Bio said his government doesn't want to lead on mere physical infrastructure but rather, 'We want to look at both physical and digital infrastructure, as well as that of our ecotourism,' he disclosed. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Two African island sites added to UNESCO World Heritage list (PHOTOS)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added two West African island regions, the Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau and Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone, to its World Heritage list, recognizing their outstanding ecological and cultural significance. The announcement was made on Sunday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. According to UNESCO, both sites represent unique natural ecosystems. Located off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, the 88-island Bijagos Archipelago has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1996. It is rich in biodiversity, hosting dugongs, dolphins, and over 870,000 migratory birds. Key sites include Poilao Island, a major sea turtle nesting area. Sierra Leone's Tiwai Island, a 12-square-kilometer island site on the Moa River, is part of the Gola-Tiwai complex, which also includes the nearby Gola Rainforest National Park. It is the country's first UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for its biodiversity, the island hosts 11 species of primates, including the endangered Diana monkey and Western chimpanzees, as well as over 130 species of birds. Nearly destroyed during the 1990s civil war, the island was preserved through efforts led by the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA). Two other African sites were added to the UNESCO list during the same session. Malawi's Mount Mulanje was included for its unique endemic flora and popular hiking trails. Cameroon's Diy-Gid-Biy cultural landscape, located in the Mandara Mountains and dating from the 12th to 17th centuries, was listed for its archaeological sites. The continent is currently home to over 100 World Heritage sites, including iconic places like the Okavango Delta, Botswana, Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, and Timbuktu, Mali. In May, UNESCO pledged support to the 11 remaining non-represented African countries to develop new nominations, as announced at a recent International Conference on Cultural Heritage in Kenya.
France 24
a day ago
- General
- France 24
South Africa's police minister suspended amid corruption allegations
01:45 15/07/2025 Sierra Leone's Tiwai Reserve joins UNESCO World Heritage list 15/07/2025 South Africa faces legal action over birth certificate backlog 15/07/2025 15/07/2025 Ukraine cautiously welcomes US support 15/07/2025 EU plans countermeasures to Trump's tariffs 15/07/2025 Bastille Day fireworks in pictures 15/07/2025 US President Trump gives Moscow 50-day ultimatum over Ukraine war 15/07/2025 Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria 15/07/2025 Syria: 'Sweida has been a real focal point of violence' Middle East
France 24
a day ago
- Business
- France 24
Former Nigerian President dies at 82
02:02 15/07/2025 South Africa's police minister suspended amid corruption allegations 15/07/2025 Sierra Leone's Tiwai Reserve joins UNESCO World Heritage list 15/07/2025 South Africa faces legal action over birth certificate backlog 15/07/2025 Ukraine's Zelensky proposes new PM, defence minister in major reshuffle 15/07/2025 Ukraine cautiously welcomes US support 15/07/2025 EU plans countermeasures to Trump's tariffs 15/07/2025 Bastille Day fireworks in pictures 15/07/2025 US President Trump gives Moscow 50-day ultimatum over Ukraine war 15/07/2025 Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria
