Africa

• 5 February 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Updates on the Madagascar crisis, as protests continue with lesser intensity Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, is the main political opponent of President Marc Ravalomanana and continues his protest, although with seemingly less supp ...
• 5 February 2009
  AFRICA - 12th African Union Summit ends a day late Addis Ababa (Agenzia Fides) – The 12th Summit of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia and AU headquarters), has ended a day late. The decision to prolong the Summit was taken following the stron ...
• 4 February 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Crisis in Madagascar worsens following mandatory dismissal of the capital's mayor; the Church calls for a day of prayer for national reconciliation Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “The crisis has experienced a sudden turn for the worst and the situation is complicated,” Agenzia Fides learned from sources at Radio Don Bosco in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital ci ...
• 4 February 2009
  AFRICA/KENYA - Over 10 million Kenyans are at risk for hunger; Cardinal Njue says: “we must weed out the culture of corruption and selfishness that has caused an artificial rise in prices.” Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - “While we acknowledge the fact that there have been inadequate rains in many parts of the country, we are also conscious that had we all taken proper measures, planned in advance, curbed the v ...
• 3 February 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Mayor of Antananarivo relaunches protest, calling for the President's dismissal and announcing the establishment of a transitional government Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo (capital of Madagascar) and main political opponent of President Marc Ravalomanana declared that he has presented a petition for the President's ...
• 3 February 2009
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Militias in the northeast resist peace, in order to maintain illegal revenue Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) – While the UN Security Council has asked that the Ivory Coast set a date for presidential elections, an armed conflict has broken out in Man, in the northeastern part of the nation, showing the ...
• 2 February 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - “The mayor's call on ministers to defect does not seem to have been followed: the majority of the offices are still open,” local sources of Fides reveal Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “The appeal made by the Mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, to public workers not to go to work has not been followed by the grand majority of the population,” say Agenzia Fides sou ...
• 2 February 2009
  AFRICA - Relaunching the economy, the crises in several countries, and the “United States of Africa” are the focus for the 12th Summit of the African Union; Libyan leader Gheddafi elected President of the Union Addis Ababa (Agenzia Fides) – The crises in Somalia, Madagascar, Guinea Bissau, Zimbabwe, and Sudan; economic development and reform of internal groups of the Union, are among the main topics for discussion at the 12th ...
• 30 January 2009
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - 900 dead and 700 kidnapped by Ugandan guerrillas in North Congo; Caritas calls for “protection of humanitarian aid organizations working to help victims of the violence.” Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – There are nearly 900 people dead and over 700 kidnapped by Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), since a series of attacks tha ...
• 29 January 2009
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - Internal conflict in the opposition party threatens plans to reach an agreement on sharing power; 7 million Zimbabweans at risk for hunger Harare (Agenzia Fides) – While pressures from civil organizations and the Catholic Church in the countries of southern Africa in relation to the Mugabe regime continue (see Fides 28/1/2009), the nation-members of the S ...
• 29 January 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - “Mayor Rajoelina has managed to spark the anger that was already present among the people,” reveal sources from Radio Don Bosco, the country's main Catholic radio station Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – High tension continues in Madagascar, although there are no signs of further incidents. The assessment from recent days continues raising its numbers (a total of 80 people have died natio ...
• 28 January 2009
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - Catholics in Botswana, South Africa, and Swaziland taking action in support of the people of Zimbabwe: February 15 declared day of prayer and solidarity Harare (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland (members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, SACBC) have asked the Catholic community in their countries to contribut ...
• 28 January 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Assessment of yesterday's fighting reveals at least 40 are dead, while diplomatic efforts continue Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – The international community continues its efforts to resolve the serious political crisis in Madagascar (see Fides 27/1/2009). According to local Church sources in contact with Agenzia Fi ...
• 27 January 2009
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - A Catholic priest kidnapped in the Niger Delta area; Church expresses disapproval Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – A Catholic priest, Fr. Pius Vii, was kidnapped by gunmen in Port Harcourt, in Rivers State (southern Nigeria). According to the local press, it seems that Fr. Pius was kidmapped shortly after ha ...
• 27 January 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - “We're trying to avoid the worst,” one local Church source from Antananarivo tells Fides, after yesterday's chaos Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation is extremely tense, but we are still hopeful of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis,” Agenzia Fides was told by local Church sources in Antananarivo, the capital of ...