Africa

• 25 March 2004
  AFRICA/ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Crowds gather for the conclusion of the diocesan Year of the Rosary in Berberati: four days of prayer and catechesis on Mary and the Eucharist Bangui (Fides Service) - Crowds of faithful gathered for the conclusion of the diocesan Year of the Rosary in the diocese of Berberati Central African Republic. Bishop Agostino Delfino, Bishop di Berberati, presided four ...
• 24 March 2004
  AFRICA/CONGO - Archdiocese of Brazzaville commemorates Cardinal Emile Biayenda abducted and murdered 27 years ago Brazzaville (Fides Service)- On Monday March 22, the Church in Congo marked the 27th anniversary of the death Cardinal Emile Biayenda, Archbishop of Brazzaville abducted and murdered on 22 March 1977. Requiem Masses were ...
• 24 March 2004
  AFRICA/CONGO - “I cannot be silent before the tragedy of my people ” says Catholic Bishop of Nkayi Brazzaville (Fides Service)- “The people are hungry, they are suffering and poverty affects every sector of society and the Church cannot remain silent in the face of this tragedy” Bishop Daniel Mizonzo, Bishop of N ...
• 23 March 2004
  AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate start new mission in Guinea Bissau geared for dialogue with Muslims and Animists Bissau (Fides Service)-The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate open a new mission in Guinea Bissau at Farim on the border with Senegal. The mission is run by two priests, Father Celso Corbioli and Father Carlo Andolfi ...
• 22 March 2004
  AFRICA/CHAD -100,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad receive concrete international solidarity. Jesuit Refugee Service and UNHCR provide assistance and safety N’Djamena (Fides Service) - There are still 100,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad. Various international agencies are intervening to provide assistance. “We are working with the N’Djamena diocesan Caritas office” F ...
• 22 March 2004
  AFRICA/GREAT LAKES REGION - National armies where former tribal enemies march shoulder to shoulder are one condition for peace in Great Lakes countries Rome (Fides Service)- Building national armies with men enlisted from all the warring parties is one condition for restoring peace in the countries of Africa’s Great Lakes region. At present Democratic Republic of Cong ...
• 18 March 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - UN High Commission for Refugees Unite prepares to assist repatriation of more than 3.6 million Sudanese refugees Rome (Fides Service)- “We thought it was important to find out how refugees felt with regard to repatriation” said Dennis McNamara, Inspector general of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Unite UNHCR, wh ...
• 17 March 2004
  AFRICA/KENYA - Discussion about presidential powers: government withdraws from National Constitutional Reform Conference Nairobi (Fides Service)-“This is a difficult time in Kenya’s political life” a local Church source in Nairobi told Fides with regard to the stall in the debate on the reform of the Constitution since the government ...
• 16 March 2004
  AFRICA/ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - “After a year of changed regime, social and economic situation still uncertain” says Bishop Mathos Auxiliary of Bangui Bangui (Fides Service)- A year after President Ange-Felix Patasse was forced to leave the country and President François Bozize took power, the Central African Republic has yet to find stability. “The whole country is ...
• 16 March 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - National Liberation Forces rebels continue to fight to prove only they can restore peace in Burundi Bujumbura (Fides Service)-“This is an inextricable skein, let’s hope that with time and infinite patience Burundi will find the way out of this spiral of violence” a local Church source in Burundi told Fides, with ...
• 15 March 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Tension rises in Ivory Coast amidst rumours of a coup and attacks on magistrates Abidjan (Fides Service) - There is rising tension in Ivory Coast where rumours of possible military coups and attacks on public officials make it difficult to imagine how the situation will evolve in the next few days. ...
• 15 March 2004
  AFRICA/CHAD - “135,000 refugees on the Chad Sudan border must be moved to safety by May before rain season starts” says Laura Boldrini UN High Commission for Refugees. Archbishop of N’Djamena appeals for help N’Djamena (Fides Service)- “There are at least 135,000 refugees camped along the Chad Sudan border who must be moved to safer places before the rain season starts in May when roads will be closed, Laura Boldrini, spo ...
• 13 March 2004
  AFRICA/BENIN - “Child labour is a modern form of slavery ” says Father Claude, in front line to fight the plague of street children in Benin Cotonou (Fides Service )- More than 4,000 children in Benin, one of the poorest countries in Africa, are sent to work in other countries. This tragic news was reported to Fides by Father Claude, who has been missionary i ...
• 13 March 2004
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - “To eliminate the scourge of child labour parents must be made to realise that that children are not the property of adults ” says Father Benedito who runs a Home for Children in southern Angola Lubango (Fides Service)-“Child labour is a social scourge in Angola involving thousands and thousands of children” Father Benedito Kapingara who opened and runs The Gospel of Life Children’s Home in Lubango dioc ...
• 13 March 2004
  AFRICA/BENIN - Little girls in Cotonou: education changed the lives of many little girls Cotonou (Fides Service) - The number of little girls at the Baraque Rouge, at the centre of the market in Cotonou in Benin, continues to grow. They are learning to be hairdressers and cooks and the programme is funded by ...