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Christian right groups 'fan flames of culture wars' in Africa
Right-wing US Christian groups are imposing their values in Africa through thinly-veiled front organisations to fight for anti-gay and anti-abortion legislation, according to a recent think-tank report.
Africa: organisations influenced by US religious groups?
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Boston-based Political Research Associates accused the groups of launching institutions and campaigns that do little more than fan ‘the flames of the culture wars over homosexuality and abortion by backing prominent African campaigners and political leaders’.
Definite links
Among the Africans who head organisations backed by the US religious right is Joseph Okia, nephew of President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, where proposed legislation may see the death penalty brought in for ‘aggravated homosexuality’.
In an Associated Press report published in the Washington Post, Mr Okia said: ‘Definitely there is a link between conservative Christians in America and conservative Christians in Uganda.’ He also referred to a ‘close intellectual and mentoring relationship’.
Misleading lies
According to the news agency, the report’s main author, the Rev Kapya Kaoma, claimed that the US groups can have a lot of influence in Africa despite being a minority at home. ‘Those kind of lies, when presented in Africa, become factual, so we need to worry that they are misleading people with these lies,’ said Mr Kaoma, an Anglican priest from Zambia.
