Africa

• 27 March 2004
  DOSSIER - AFRICA/UGANDA - In 18 years of civil war rebels have enlisted 35,000 children. AVSI Association of Volunteers for International Development assists children who escaped their captors Kampala (Fides Service) - In 18 years of civil war in northern Uganda, more than 35,000 children have been abducted and forced to right by the Lord’s Resistance Army LRA. “The figure is realistic although precise fig ...
• 27 March 2004
  DOSSIER - AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - “The most difficult thing is to help the youngsters forced to kill to find their identity again” says Xaverian missionary in Sierra Leone who helps rehabilitation of child soldiers in Sierra Leone Freetown (Fides Service) - “The most difficult thing is to help the youngsters find their identity again” Father Giuseppe Berton, Xaverian missionary in Sierra Leone told Fides. For years Father Berton has worked to ...
• 26 March 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Ivory Coast is ever more divided after clashes with police and demonstrators yesterday in which 25 people were killed and many injured. The saddest thing is that no one thinks of the good of the nation Abidjan (Fides Service)- At least 25 people were killed and many more injured during clashes between the police and demonstrators yesterday 25 March in Abidjan, economic capital of Ivory Coast where a planned Opposition ...
• 26 March 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Four hundred thousand people in flight in northern Uganda: “Africa Mission - Cooperation and Development” provides emergency humanitarian aid. Rome (Fides Service) - With each passing day, the tragedy of civilians in northern Uganda assumes ever more serious dimensions. The central government in Kampala would appear to be unable to counter effectively the inten ...
• 25 March 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - At least 11 people killed Opposition demonstration interrupted: crucial hour for Ivory Coast Abidjan (Fides Service)- “The city is holding its breath, all strategic points are heavily manned ” local Church sources in Abidjan told Fides. Today, March 25, Ivory Coast Opposition parties had staged a demonstrati ...
• 25 March 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Bishops concerned about tension, call for cancellation of Opposition demonstration scheduled for today March 25 Abidjan (Fides Service)- “It is very sad to see that most of the words about peace are anything but peaceful!”. This was affirmed by the Catholic Bishops of Ivory Coast with regard to the climate of tension in the co ...
• 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 ...