Africa

• 24 September 2008
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - “The people’s trust in institutions needs to be reestablished,” Bishops say in a message in response to the resignation of President Mbeki Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) – “There is no doubt that rivalry and discord in the governing party have hindered its ability to serve the whole community in recent months. It is now time for the new leaders to focus o ...
• 24 September 2008
  AFRICA/KENYA - Concern for the respect of human rights following the publication of a report on “death squadrons” Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – Nearly 500 people have been killed in Kenya by what are called “death squadrons,” who are linked to local secret service agencies. This is what a report from the National Commission on Hum ...
• 23 September 2008
  AFRICA - “Africa’s development is a challenge and an opportunity for the whole world,” says the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN New York (Agenzia Fides) – “For the last 60 years Africa, with its historical and geographic particularities, has challenged the capacity of the United Nations to carry out the high ideals enshrined in its Charter of ...
• 23 September 2008
  AFRICA/CONGO - Ugandan rebels attack eastern Congo, forcing missionaries to flee the land and join the population taking refuge in a Sudan diocese Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “Fr. Mario Benedetti and Fr. Ferruccio Gobbi are fine. They are in Yambio, in southern Sudan and are preparing their documents to travel to Kampala, in Uganda, where we have our Provincial Hous ...
• 22 September 2008
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Uncertainty following the resignation of President Mbeki Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) – “Uncertainty.” This has been the most common word in the commentaries and reports coming from the South African press following the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki. “"I have be ...
• 22 September 2008
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - “Feed the people,” the Bishops say, while the accord on sharing powers remains in a deadlock Harare (Agenzia Fides) – While the accord for sharing powers in Zimbabwe remains at a standstill because no agreement is reached as to the appointment of Ministers, the Catholic Church is warning as to the grave condit ...
• 19 September 2008
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Over 50 Nigerians condemned to death and 23,000 in detention centers across the world Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Over 50 Nigerians are currently on death row in various countries throughout the world, the majority for alleged involvement in drug related offences. The Executive Secretary, National Human Rig ...
• 19 September 2008
  AFRICA/DJIBOUTI - UN confirms emergency situation caused by tensions on the Djibouti-Eritrea border Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The situation on the Djibouti-Eritrean border remains volatile after a flaring of tensions on the border in June left over 35 dead and dozens wounded (see Fides 12/6/2008). This is what has been ...
• 18 September 2008
  AFRICA/KENYA - Over 5 million people at risk for starvation in Kenya, 923 million at risk worldwide Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – At least 5 million people could die of hunger. This is what has been declared by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group. The organization has found that at least 1.3 million people in rural ar ...
• 18 September 2008
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - South Kivu students in eastern Congo protest against the war Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The students of Bukavu (the capital of South Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo) have organized peaceful demonstrations protesting the war on the border between nor ...
• 17 September 2008
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - “We are having to respond to the spiritual and material wounds of the civil war,” the Bishop of Kongolo says. Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “We have emerged from a conflict that has left deep wounds – material ones, but above all, spiritual ones,” Bishop Oscar Ngoy wa Mpanda of Kongolo (Democratic Republic of Congo) told Agenzi ...
• 17 September 2008
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - The petroleum war in the Delta between guerillas and financial speculators Lagos (Agenzia Fides) – There continues to be attacks on the Nigerian oil installations being carried out by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which on September 14 declared an authentic “o ...
• 16 September 2008
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - Agreement signed regarding distribution of powers between the majority and the opposition; new Premier calls for the country’s unity Harare (Agenzia Fides) – The agreement as to distribution of powers was signed yesterday, September 15, in Zimbabwe’s capital city of Harare. The document establishes the formation of a coalition government (see Fide ...
• 16 September 2008
  AFRICA/CAMEROON - “I have a difficult mission ahead, but I have faith in God’s assistance,” says the Bishop-elect of Yagoua Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “As Bishop, I will be a father to all people, especially to the priests, looking after their spiritual and material needs, as well as those of my lay faithful that the Church has entrusted to m ...
• 15 September 2008
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - “The Jubilee Year of St. Paul is a year of renewal on the mission of the Church,” say the Bishops, praising the improvements of the country’s social conditions, although there is still work left to be done. Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “We commend the one year in office of President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. We note an increase in peace and tranquility, religious coexistence, fairness and the rule of law.” These were the wo ...