THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Pastor Elad Kiwanuka Epah was the victim of a suspected racist attack in Bad Belzig, Brandenburg, in the night of 24 to 25 April. The Cameroon-born clergyman was reportedly attacked by suspected neo-Nazi thugs. Briefly hospitalised, he was discharged in the afternoon of 25 April.
The incident has been eliciting reactions from the African community in Germany.
“This cowardly act of violence has deeply shocked us all and once again emphasises the urgent need to stand up against racism and discrimination in all its forms,” Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairperson of The African Network of Germany (TANG), an umbrella body for African non-profit associations and individuals, said in a statement.
“We are determined to stand by Pastor Epah and his family in this difficult time and to stand up for justice and solidarity,” the statement added.
“After the incident, we took immediate action to offer support to Pastor Epah and his family,” Ms Nantha said, on the efforts of her organisation, of which the victim is also a member.
“We stand firmly together to ensure that Pastor Epah and his family receive the justice and support they deserve. We will not allow hate and intolerance to take hold in our society. Together we will work for a world in which every person is respected and protected, regardless of their origin or skin colour.”
A meeting of the Cameroonian diaspora in Brandenburg and representatives of other communities took place on Wednesday to discuss the situation of Pastor Epah. The Zoom meeting was organised and moderated by Marianne Ballé, herself a Cameroonian and board member of the Central Council of the African Community in Germany.
A total of 37 people from Germany took part in the virtual meeting, including two guests from the Cameroonian diaspora from Washington and South Africa, who expressed their support. After a round of introductions, Mbeuh Wandji reported on the terrible racist attack on Pastor Epah, while Dr Sylvie Nantcha reported on her efforts at the hospital and with the Bad Belzig police to ensure that a criminal complaint is filed and that the perpetrators are caught.
Participants pledged to support the Epah family in order to obtain clarification so that similar incidents can be avoided in the future. It was agreed that solidarity actions must take place locally in Bad Belzig. To this end, four working groups were formed to work on the various issues, surrounding the incident.
Pastor Epah has expressed his gratitude to the community for the support for him and his family, Dr Nantcha, who spoke with the cleargyman on the phone after the Zoom meeting, reported. “He would like to thank everyone who has shown him their solidarity during this difficult time. He is overwhelmed by the wave of support and solidarity and is very grateful to God that he is alive.”
Meanwhile, the ambassador of Cameroon to Germany, HE Victor Ndocki, has also paid a visit to Pastor Epah and his family to express the solidarity of the diplomatic mission. He assured the clergyman of his support.
The police in Brandenburg is yet to issue a definitive report of its investigations of the incident.
According to Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, a new high of 23,493 right-wing extremist offences was recorded in 2022. This is an increase of seven per cent compared to 2021. According to media reports, this trend continued in 2023 but figures haven’t been released for that year. In fact, the extent of right-wing violence continues to grow, experts say.
Sola Jolaoso
