Africa

• 25 June 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - On the eve of Independence Day gendarmes arrest suspected authors of dynamite attacks Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides)- On the eve of Madagascar's Independence Day, tomorrow 26 June, the gendarmes have arrested a group of persons, at least 8 according to some sources, suspected of belonging to a network of at ...
• 25 June 2009
  AFRICA - Falling demand for traditional drugs, but rising consumption of synthetic drugs in developing countries, according to a UN Report on drugs in the world Vienna (Agenzia Fides)- “ As long as demand for drugs persists, weak countries will always be targeted by traffickers. If Europe really wants to help Africa, it should curb its appetite for cocaine”, said Antonio Mar ...
• 24 June 2009
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Concerned for the situation in Southern Sudan, the international community meets in Washington to save the 2005 peace agreement Khartoum (Agenzia Fides)- Representatives of 32 different countries and international organisations met yesterday, 23 June in Washington to save the Southern Sudan peace agreement. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace ...
• 24 June 2009
  AFRICA/MALAWI - Backed by an unprecedented majority in parliament, Head of State prepares settles down to govern for another five years; Fides asks the opinion of a missionary Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides)- One month has passed since political and presidential elections in Malawi gave a second mandate to outgoing President Bingu wa Mutharika (see Fides 22/5/2009). Italian Monfort missionary, Fr Pie ...
• 23 June 2009
  AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - “I am in my diocese. Shall I not share the plight of my children?”. The Catholic Church in Sierra Leone commemorates the first Vicar Apostolic on the 150th anniversary of his death Freetown (Agenzia Fides)- Catholics in Sierra Leone are commemorating Bishop Melchior de Marion de Brésillac, the country's Vicar Apostolic, who died 150 years ago. On the occasion of the anniversary Italian Xaverian mi ...
• 23 June 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Madagascar amidst hopes and uncertainties prepares to celebrate annual National Holiday, while the south continues to suffer hunger and thirst Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides)- While Madagascar waits anxiously for national dialogue to begin, the country is preparing to celebrate the annual National Holiday on 26 June. “The situation is calm, although both the pol ...
• 22 June 2009
  AFRICA/EGYPT - Egyptian Catholics commemorate the start of the fifth year of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI Cairo (Agenzia Fides)- Egyptian Catholics are preparing to celebrate the beginning of the fifth year of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI with various ceremonies. On June 25 a special Mass will be celebrated at Alexan ...
• 19 June 2009
  AFRICA - On the occasion of the Year for Priests, 16 new priests from 3 continents for the Missionaries of Africa and another 24 in formation Rome (Agenzia Fides) – At the opening of the Year for Priests, 16 young men will receive priestly ordination as members of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, also known as the “White Fathers.” According to a st ...
• 18 June 2009
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - “Living the Word of God in Nigeria - In the Footsteps of St. Paul”: Final Document from the Plenary Assembly of the National Missionary Council of Nigeria Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Be inspired by the zeal of St. Paul in preaching the Divine Word: this was the appeal launched at the close of the Plenary Assembly of the National Missionary Council of Nigeria, which took plac ...
• 16 June 2009
  AFRICA/GABON - The geopolitical consequences of the death of Bongo, whose funeral is celebrated today Libreville (Agenzia Fides) – While funeral services are held today, June 16, for the President of Gabon, Omar Bongo, who officially passed away on June 8 in Barcelona, several analysts are wondering what geopolitical c ...
• 16 June 2009
  AFRICA/SENEGAL - Banditry continues to threaten the stability of Casamance, region bordering Guinea Bissau: the cloud of drug trafficking looms in the distance Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – Three people have been killed in recent days in three different street muggings, a woman has lost a leg as the result of a mine explosion. These recent events show two plagues afflicting Casaman ...
• 15 June 2009
  AFRICA/CONGO DR - Congolese Army continues their attack on LRA: over 100 hostages in captivity since early June released Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The Congolese Army has freed over 100 people who had been taken hostage by Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on June 2, from the village of Dakwa, 200 kilometers from the bor ...
• 15 June 2009
  AFRICA/GUINEA - Twenty people in custody for cocaine trafficking, including high-ranking officials of the past regime Conakry (Agenzia Fides) – Is there a real desire to fight drug trafficking or is this a way to eliminate political adversaries and satisfy the international community at the same time? This is the question begin posed ...
• 12 June 2009
  AFRICA/SENEGAL - Bishops' concern for situation in Guinea Bissau and Mauritania Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Guinea Bissau have launched an appeal to the government and the “active forces” of these nations, asking that they respect the common good ...
• 12 June 2009
  AFRICA/EGYPT - Tonight: Schubert's “Stabat Mater” at the Latin Basilica of Our Lady of Heliopolis, Cairo, for the first time outside of the Christmas Season Cairo (Agenzia Fides) – Today, June 12, the Latin Basilica of Our Lady of Heliopolis will hold a free concert, open to the general public. The “Celebration Choir and Orchestra” will perform Schubert's “Stabat Ma ...