Africa

• 20 December 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “Let’s hope words are followed by action” a missionary in east Congo tells Fides after Rwanda’s announcement that it does not intend to attack Democratic Congo Bukavu (Fides Service)- “It sounds good but we want to see action” a local Church source in Bukavu, in the east of Democratic Congo told Fides with regard to the Rwandan government’s announcement that it does not i ...
• 17 December 2004
  AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Life witness of Blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora reaches Africa: people in Burkina Faso appreciate her special care for the family Ouagadougou (Fides Service) - During a recent visit to Italy, through the Trinitarian Fathers, Camillian Brother Giovanni Grigoletto learned more about the figure and spirituality of Blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora, beat ...
• 17 December 2004
  AFRICA/SENEGAL - “I hope this will mean lasting peace: the people have had enough of war” Bishop of Ziguinchor comments on announced Casamance peace agreement Ziguinchor (Fides Service)- “I hope the agreement due to be signed on 30 December brings lasting peace to Casamance” said Bishop Maixent Coly of Ziguinchor, main city in this southern region of Senegal where the sece ...
• 17 December 2004
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Cease fire in northern Uganda extended. A Missionary tells Fides: “it would be wonderful if the Infant Jesus were to bring peace so farmers can tend to their crops” Kitgum (Fides Service)- Cease fire agreement in northern Uganda extended. This was announced by a member of the Ugandan government who said the new cease fire agreement will end on 31 December. To facilitate negotiation ...
• 17 December 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - “Members of parliament argue, the UN threatens sanctions, but what worries Ivorians is rising unemployment and crime ” local source told Fides Abidjan (Fides Service)- The Ivorian parliament is meeting today, 17 December, to discuss three Bills approved by a special commission with regard to the revision of article 35 of the Constitution concerning conditions f ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - “Discouragement is widespread but all is not lost”: comment from Burundi following postponement of Constitutional revision Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “There is widespread discouragement with regard to the process of transition and this is a dangerous element, but it is important that the sides keep talking rather than having recourse to ar ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - Another “creeping war” which has already put 35,000 people to flight: this is eastern Democratic Congo Bukavu (Fides Service)- “Another war is approaching, we can feel it. It will be the third here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but unlike the others this war is hidden and creeping so as not to draw the attention ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Another cease fire agreement reached for Darfur: but will it be respected? Khartoum (Fides Service)- There is new hope for peace in the martyred western Sudan region of Darfur after Khartoum agreed yesterday 15 December to cease military operations in the region, paving the way for a resuming o ...
• 16 December 2004
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Christmas of solidarity: Catholic schools help refugee children from Sudan Sydney (Fides Service) - Australia’s Catholic schools are organising scholarships and teachers training courses for refugee children and adults from Sudan where thousands are dying of hardship, hunger and disease cause ...
• 15 December 2004
  AFRICA/CHAD - “All is not lost. We are a people of hope and we see signs of a new dawn appearing” the Catholic Bishops of Chad write in a Message for Christmas N’Djamena ( Fides Service)- “God loves this land of Chad and shows his love through the rich natural resources given to the country: rivers and abundant fish, land and a great variety of fruits, pastures and animals, ...
• 15 December 2004
  AFRICA - Congo, Burundi, Uganda: three Great Lakes region countries in crisis Rome - (Fides Service)- Three countries in Africa’s Great Lakes region are in the grip of crisis: Democratic Congo, Burundi and Uganda. East Congo has once again been plunged into fear and violence with the arrival of ...
• 14 December 2004
  AFRICA/TUNISIA - St. Augustine African and Universal: Tunis hosts important exhibition on the Bishop of Hippo Tunis (Fides Service ) - On the occasion of the 1650th anniversary of the birth of St Augustine of Hippo, St Louis Catholic Basilica in Tunis will host an Exhibition on the famous 4th century Bishop of Hippo from 15 Dece ...
• 14 December 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - “I think the peace agreement for southern Sudan will be postponed to January or February next year” Bishop Gassis of El Obeid told Fides Khartoum (Fides Service)- “I think the peace agreement for southern Sudan will be postponed to January or February next year” Bishop Gassis of El Obeid told Fides. “In fact the status of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mou ...
• 14 December 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Hidden tragedy in Ivory Coast: in the past month more than 5,000 people have been chased from their homes. Catholic village chief among those killed Abidjan (Fides Service)- “Such violence against civilians has never been seen in two years of crisis. Rebels are breaking into homes, smashing doors, injuring helpless people, robbing everything” a local source in B ...
• 13 December 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - More violence in North Kivu threatens whole area. Christian Churches in Goma launch appeal: “No to a spirit of division and tribal rivalry, yes to peace and mutual acceptance” Bukavu (Fides Service)- Hundreds perhaps thousands are fleeing the area of Kanyabayonga 160km north of Goma in North Kivu where violent fighting broke out yesterday. “The fighting is between RCD rebels and regular army ...