The Contribution of the Catholic Church to Post-Civil War Conflict Resolution in Chad

I argue that if Chadian society continues to feel the effects of the 1979 civil war, then it is because solutions or an adequate method of approaching the conflict have not been applied. On the one hand, there is a lack of clear political will in the management of the battle, and on the other hand, civil society, including the Church, has not been sufficiently involved in the process of conflict resolution. For there to be social harmony, the Chadian people need a consequent reconciliation. Because of the influential presence of the Catholic Church in Chadian society, we consider it necessary for the Church to become more involved in the process of resolving the post-civil war conflict in Chad. To help the Church in this process, we propose a responsible approach to reconciliation; that is, one that puts the individual at the center of the reconciliation process. Such an agreement can only arise from self-sacrifice and a dynamic process of conversion. From this point of view, forgiveness, and peacebuilding through the application of the principle of subsidiarity are indispensable factors in keeping the process of reconciliation dynamic. Realistically, we suggest that the Church set up structures such as centers for the training of the laity and for inter-religious dialogue that can provide adequate training for its pastoral agents.