Fides News - Englishhttps://fides.org/Fides Agency NewsenContent on this site is licensed under aASIA/INDIA - General elections announced; a Jesuit: "to start again from the Constitution"https://fides.org/en/news/74836-ASIA_INDIA_General_elections_announced_a_Jesuit_to_start_again_from_the_Constitutionhttps://fides.org/en/news/74836-ASIA_INDIA_General_elections_announced_a_Jesuit_to_start_again_from_the_ConstitutionNew Delhi - The Election Commission of India has announced that the general elections in the largest democracy in the world will hold a seven-phase general election starting on April 19, over a period of 6 weeks. The dates scheduled for the vote, in the different states of the Federation, are: April 19 and 26; May 7, 13, 20 and 25; and June 1. The vote count will be announced starting June 4th. The approximately 968 million Indians eligible to vote will elect members for the lower house of Parliament and, accordingly, determine the composition of a ruling majority. In total, there are 543 seats at stake and the participating parties total 2,400. <br />"Indian citizens are aware that this is a decisive moment for the country and that the outcome of the elections will undoubtedly determine the future, particularly the nation's commitment to its Constitution and the future of our democracy", comments the Jesuit columnist and writer Cedric Prakash SJ. <br />"India's pluralistic traditions and democratic ethics are at stake. Article 19 of the Constitution , Article 21 , Article 25 , and all the fundamental rights of citizens must be re-evaluated", he points out". "Today, the poor and vulnerable, the marginalized and minorities, the excluded and the exploited, the Adivasis, the Dalits; small farmers and migrant workers; women and children; people with disabilities; human rights defenders, journalists and all those who promote the idea of a democratic, pluralistic and secular India are penalized", says the religious. <br />The Jesuit sees "a serious lack of political will to address the burning issues of the national system, such as: the national education policy, the Citizenship Amendment Act, anti-conversion laws, agricultural laws ideology, which preaches "one people, one culture, one religion", and is contrary to pluralism. On November 26, 1949, the Indian people - recalls the Jesuit - "approved a visionary and innovative Constitution". In conclusion, Fr. Prakash quotes the speech of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Indian politician, philosopher and jurist, on the eve of the entry into force of the Constitution: "If we wish to maintain democracy not only in form, but also in deeds - said Ambedkar - what do we have to do? The first thing is to stick to constitutional methods to achieve our social and economic objectives, there can be no justification for unconstitutional methods. The second thing is not to put our freedoms in the hands of a single great man, or entrust him with power that allows him to subvert institutions. The third thing is not to settle for mere political democracy. We must also make our political democracy a social democracy". <br />Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:31:29 +0100ASIA/PHILIPPINES - "Nihil obstat" into the sainthood cause of Filipino teenager Nina Ruiz-Abadhttps://fides.org/en/news/74830-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Nihil_obstat_into_the_sainthood_cause_of_Filipino_teenager_Nina_Ruiz_Abadhttps://fides.org/en/news/74830-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Nihil_obstat_into_the_sainthood_cause_of_Filipino_teenager_Nina_Ruiz_AbadLaoag - The Holy See has granted the "nihil obstat" to begin the process of beatification of a Filipino teenager, Niña Ruiz-Abad , who from now on will be called "Servant of God". The news was spread in a circular that was read in all churches in the Ilocos Norte region, generating great joy among the faithful. "Rejoice!", wrote the Bishop of Laoag, Renato Mayugba, who had already received the full support of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines during its July 2023 assembly. The diocese of Laoag, where the girl came from, will commence a local inquiry into the reputation and sanctity of Abad, reported the Bishop of Laoag, the competent authority in charge of launching the diocesan phase of the beatification cause. This process will officially open on April 7, Divine Mercy Sunday, in the Cathedral of Saint William of Laoag, with the first session of the specially convened diocesan tribunal.<br />Niña Ruiz-Abad was born on October 31, 1979 at Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, the daughter of a couple of lawyers, but her father died when she was only three years old. She grew up in Quezon City, along with her sister Mary Anne. She studied at the Child Study Center of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City and later at the Holy Angels Montessori School in the same city. Her mother, a devotee of Divine Mercy, moved with her daughters to Sarrat in April 1988 due to her work at the Department of Justice.<br />Niña attends Mariano Marcos State University High School in Laoag. She was described as having a strong devotion to the Eucharist and devoted her life to distributing rosaries, bibles, prayer books, holy images and other religious items. <br />An unwavering faith encouraged her, even though she was beginning to feel the effects of heart disease. When Father Danny Pajarillaga, a Catholic priest, met Niña for the first time in 1993, he immediately realized that she was a unique, spiritually "special" girl. She stood out among her classmates for her fervent faith in the Eucharist and for the time she dedicated to praying. As a true missionary disciple, she "was a walking testimony of piety and religion, she was always dressed in white and with a rosary around her neck," remember those who knew her. <br />The little girl was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of 10 and she lived three years of illness always with joy and deep faith. "Niña's life was a life of prayer, adoration and an intimate relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary", said Bishop Mayugba. <br />She is buried in a public cemetery in Sarrat and her grave is a place of pilgrimage. "Today, children and young people are inspired by the life of Niña Ruiz-Abad to live a life rooted in prayer. Her story continues to reach the hearts of many people because it is an example of how with God obstacles can be overcome," wrote the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. <br />Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:32:55 +0100AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - The new cold war passes through mercenarieshttps://fides.org/en/news/74826-AFRICA_CENTRAL_AFRICA_The_new_cold_war_passes_through_mercenarieshttps://fides.org/en/news/74826-AFRICA_CENTRAL_AFRICA_The_new_cold_war_passes_through_mercenariesBangui - Is the Central African Republic a "Paradise of mercenaries"? The country has long been the scene of the intervention of various private military companies , at least since March 2003, when François Bozizé took power in a coup supported by France against President Ange-Félix Patassé. Paris, which had not deployed troops in the country since 1998, sent General Jean-Pierre Pérez, an officer of the Foreign Legion, as a military advisor to the new strongman. General Pérez knows the country well, as he commanded the Eléments Français d'Assistance Opérationnelle , a contingent of 1,200 men stationed in Central Africa from 1981 to 1998.<br />In 2012, the Seleka rebel coalition threatened Bozizé's power. Abandoned by his Chadian ally, who withdrew the troops protecting him, Bozizé turned to the help of Pérez, who had meanwhile retired from active service and had become president of the private security company EHC, registered in Delaware, a well-known tax haven in the United States. To support Pérez, the EHC appointed another French soldier on leave, Francis Fauchart, former commando of the French Navy and former head of the presidential guard of Omar Bongo, then President of Gabon.<br />In a statement, the French company declared that with "the arrival of General Jean-Pierre PEREZ to the presidency of the group, EHC intends to position itself decisively in the niches of operational and strategic assistance to state armies. Indeed, noting that more and more States, for various reasons, have difficulties in solving their defense and internal security problems, the EHC Group proposes to provide them with various types of operational assistance services. These services include:<br />- the establishment of “security defense” advisors for senior military authorities and heads of military combat units<br />- tactical and technical retraining of units before their operational intervention<br />- establishing experts to provide strategic support to combat troops;<br />- assistance and advice on outsourcing programs for certain defense and internal security functions".<br />When Seleka took power, the new President Michel Djotodia turned to the son of former French President François Mitterrand, Jean-Christophe, who in turn turned to Jérôme Gomboc , director of the private security company Roussel G -Sécurité, also registered in Delaware. Following pressure from Paris, Djotodia was forced to resign and the new President, Catherine Samba-Panza, turned to the company Gallice, registered in Ireland, for her security. Gallice was founded by three former members of the "action service" of the General Directorate of External Security , the foreign intelligence service in Paris, and Frédéric Gallois, former commander of the Special Department of Anti-Terrorist Intervention of the French Gendarmerie.<br />In the 2016 elections, a new President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was elected, who maintained his contract with Gallice. Meanwhile, the French-led Sangaris mission, which together with a Chad-led African stabilization force was supposed to help authorities in Bangui regain control of the territory in the hands of various armed groups. Both French and Chadian soldiers were accused of violence against the civilian population, which caused them to lose the support of the Central African population. The new Presidency then attempted to reactivate its armed forces , but to do so it had to ask the UN Security Council to end the arms embargo decreed at the outbreak of the civil war. Paradoxically, it is at the French suggestion that Bangui went to Moscow to ask the UN Security Council to support lifting the embargo so that regular Central African soldiers could be armed. With Russian support, the embargo was lifted. Moscow also pledged to supply weapons to Central African troops. But along with the first military supplies, Wagner's mercenaries landed in Bangui. Preceded by the arrival in March 2018 of Valery Zakharov, in charge of directing and advising the presidential guard, the first Russian "contractors" arrived in July of the same year. <br />Since then, the Central African Republic has become an important base for Wagner, which, after the death of its founder, has been renamed the Afrikansky Korpus. Hundreds of Russian instructors are officially present in the country to train the Central African military and support the FACA. In parallel with these official activities, the Russian private military company carries out a series of economic activities, mainly the exploitation of gold mines. The Central African authorities have also expressed their intention to grant Moscow a base capable of housing 10,000 Russian soldiers who would be responsible for training and educating local soldiers.<br />But the Bangui government seems to want to create a counterweight to the presence of Russian mercenaries by relying on a Rwandan military contingent and, apparently, also on the men of the American Bancroft Global Development, whose presence was indirectly confirmed by the US ambassador in Bangui.<br />Bancroft, created in 1999 under the name Landmine Clearance International, has since specialized in demining, and still operates as an NGO .<br />In July 2023, Bancroft, which is partly funded by the US State Department but claims to be independent, said it had agreed on a framework to discuss possible cooperation with the Central African government, but provided no details.<br />The company, which has been working in Somalia for more than a decade, stated that its main objective in the Central African Republic is to control and protect mining concessions in areas where armed groups operate, so that the benefits can be shared with the local population and the State. Bancroft counts among its executives a former French mercenary, linked to the transalpine extreme right, and Bon Dénard, the most famous of the French mercenaries. <br />Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:11:13 +0100VATICAN - Pope Francis: Only the real encounter with Jesus frees us from the temptation to "make faith a theory"https://fides.org/en/news/74835-VATICAN_Pope_Francis_Only_the_real_encounter_with_Jesus_frees_us_from_the_temptation_to_make_faith_a_theoryhttps://fides.org/en/news/74835-VATICAN_Pope_Francis_Only_the_real_encounter_with_Jesus_frees_us_from_the_temptation_to_make_faith_a_theoryVatican City - In order to be transmitted, faith in the risen Lord, requires "significant experience lived within the family and the Christian community as an encounter with Jesus Christ who changes life", said Pope Francis today, in his address to Superiors, Members and Consultors of the Dicastery for Evangelization - Section for the fundamental questions - gathered in plenary assembly in the Vatican. Without this encounter with Jesus, "real and existential", added the Bishop of Rome, "we will always be subject to the temptation to make faith a theory and not a testimony of life".<br />In his address to the Members of of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for the fundamental questions, Pope Francis started from a realistic recognition of the "condition in which several local Churches find themselves, where the secularism of past decades has created enormous difficulties: from the loss of a sense of belonging to the Christian community, to indifference regarding faith and its content. They are serious problems", the Pontiff acknowledged, and yet the present time is also a "right time" to "understand what effective answer we are required to give to the young generations, so that they can recover the meaning of life", in an era marked by the "new digital culture, which presents many interesting aspects for the progress of humanity" but "also brings with it a vision of mankind that appears problematic when referring to the need for truth that resides in every person, joined with the need for freedom in interpersonal and social relationships". <br />The great issue to be addressed - continued the Successor of Peter - is to "understand how to overcome the rupture that has occurred in the transmission of faith". <br />Pope Francis thanked the participants in the plenary session for their service "in the field of catechesis", recalling that "in this mission, a specific role is entrusted to those who have received and will receive the ministry of Catechist, in order to be strengthened in their commitment to the service of evangelization". The Pope also encouraged to "find ways for the Catechism of the Catholic Church to continue to be known, studied, and valued, so that it may respond to the new needs that manifest themselves with the passing decades". <br />Pope Francis also recalled that the "spirituality of mercy" is "a fundamental component of the work of evangelization", recalling that "God’s mercy is never lacking, and we are called to bear witness to it and, so to speak, to make it circulate in the veins of the body of the Church". In this context, the Pontiff referred to the "pastoral care of Shrines", which "must be imbued with mercy, so that those who come to these places may find an oasis of peace and serenity". <br />In his address, Pope Francis also referred to the "preparation for the next year’s Ordinary Jubilee. It will be a Jubilee in which the power of hope should emerge. <br />In a few weeks’ time", the Pontiff revealed, "I will publish the Apostolic Letter for its official proclamation: I hope that those pages will be able to help many people to reflect and above all to experience hope in a real way . This theological virtue" continued the Bishop of Rome, recalling a phrase by the French poet Charles Péguy "has been seen poetically as the “little sister” among the other two, faith and charity, but without which these two do not flourish, do not express their best". Concluding his speech, the Pontiff also recalled that "this year that precedes the Jubilee is dedicated to prayer. We need to rediscover prayer as the experience of being in the Lord’s presence, of feeling we are understood, welcomed and loved by Him. As Jesus taught us, it is not a question of multiplying words, but rather of giving space to silence so as to listen to His World and to welcome Him in our life. Let us start, brothers and sisters", urged the Bishop of Rome, "to pray more, to pray better, in the school of Mary and of the saints". <br />Fri, 15 Mar 2024 14:14:10 +0100AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Bishop of Tombura Yambio “The situation is catastrophic and therefore requires urgent action”https://fides.org/en/news/74834-AFRICA_SOUTH_SUDAN_Bishop_of_Tombura_Yambio_The_situation_is_catastrophic_and_therefore_requires_urgent_actionhttps://fides.org/en/news/74834-AFRICA_SOUTH_SUDAN_Bishop_of_Tombura_Yambio_The_situation_is_catastrophic_and_therefore_requires_urgent_actionJuba - Hunger, floods, drought and growing insecurity, a weak economy on the verge of collapse. These are the factors that bring great suffering to the people of South Sudan, says Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of Tombura Yambio. <br />“Our people continue to suffer the effects of complex emergencies which are still being experienced in many parts of the country, including those parts that had previously been peaceful,” Bishop Kussala said in a statement. “As a result, the number of internally displaced persons who are living in deplorable conditions, and are starving has increased tremendously across the country, with the most affected being women, children, the aged, and people living with disabilities,” said Bishop Kussala. “Those still living in their homesteads are equally facing starvation since most of them have had to, ironically, abandon their sources of livelihood in a bid to save their lives. Most school-going children have had to drop out of school because of insecurity and fear of being forcefully recruited to serve as soldiers in the conflicts”, continued Bishop Kussala. <br />“It is no longer about the country and its leadership, but about the people of South Sudan who are slowly perishing. Unless cushioned from these calamities, we are afraid that our people will not survive especially because the majority of the population are helpless youths who have no source of income, while most of the remaining 36% are elderly persons. The situation is dire and therefore in need of urgent intervention" he concludes. In its latest report, released on March 1, the UN Human Rights Commission for South Sudan notes that violence and persistent impunity continue to impact the lives of an extremely vulnerable population and warns that the already dire humanitarian situation in the country is worsening. The elections scheduled for December, the first since Sudan's independence in 2011, are expected to be a milestone in efforts to achieve lasting peace after the end of the civil war that has erupted since 2013 and has killed an estimated 400,000 people. A peace agreement was reached in 2018, but implementation has been slow and violence continues in some parts of the country. <br />Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:24:40 +0100ASIA/PAKISTAN - On the anniversary of his death, the diocesan phase of the cause of beatification of the young Akah Bashir has concludedhttps://fides.org/en/news/74833-ASIA_PAKISTAN_On_the_anniversary_of_his_death_the_diocesan_phase_of_the_cause_of_beatification_of_the_young_Akah_Bashir_has_concludedhttps://fides.org/en/news/74833-ASIA_PAKISTAN_On_the_anniversary_of_his_death_the_diocesan_phase_of_the_cause_of_beatification_of_the_young_Akah_Bashir_has_concludedLahore - The sacrifice of Akash Bashir is an example that is bearing fruit in the Church in Pakistan: it ended with a solemn mass of thanksgiving celebrated this morning, March 15, in the Cathedral of Lahore filled with over 500 faithful the diocesan phase of the beatification process of Akash Bashir, the young 20-year-old Pakistani who sacrificed himself on March 15, 2015 in Lahore to stop a terrorist who wanted to carry out a massacre at the Church of St. John in the Youhanabad district of Lahore. "I will die, but I won't let you into the church," were his last words as he hugged the bomber, who was wearing an explosive belt, and died with him in the explosion. Today the entire parish of Lahore honored the memory of the young man and the Archbishop of Lahore, Sebastian Shaw, at the conclusion of the diocesan investigation to recognize the martyrdom, placed the certificate in the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan, Archbishop Germano Penemote, who was present at the celebration. In addition, records and documents collected and examined by the diocesan tribunal collected and examined over the past two years in the diocesan phase of the canonical process, which opened on March 15, 2022, were handed over. Akash is the first "Servant of God" in the history of the Church of Pakistan. Archbishop Shaw recalled the young man's sacrifice, thanked his family and the community of believers who continue to pray to him for the success of the cause, and noted with joy that he had received "a gift from God for the entire local Church". It is enough to recall that in St. John's Church alone, the site of Akash's martyrdom, more than 800 baptisms are celebrated every year and many young Pakistanis have begun to attend Mass and become active in the parish. The young man attended the Don Bosco Technical and Youth Center, founded in Lahore in 1999 by the Salesian religious to welcome students often rejected by traditional schools and provide them with technical and vocational training. The Pakistani Salesian Father Noble Lal, SDB, now Rector of the institute, who was present at the mass, tells Fides: "It was a very heartfelt celebration in which priests, religious and lay people of our community participated with spiritual intensity. The story and Akash's decision to believe are very important for our Church. In a split second, the young man decided to give his life. He lived his 'here and now' with God, with deep faith in him. Akash represents a powerful source of inspiration for our young people. We are very happy about this first step. Now all the documents are going to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican. We hope that Akash can be declared a martyr by 2024 or the jubilee year 2025. We continue to pray: every Wednesday we celebrate a mass in memory of Akash at the Salesian Center, which is attended every week by more than 150 young people among our students, who are always highly motivated. The memory of him is alive and through his experience the young people receive an inner impulse to cultivate and deepen their faith in Jesus in their lives". <br />Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:10:00 +0100AMERICA/HAITI - "The resignation of the Haitian prime minister under pressure from gang violence has set a dangerous precedent"https://fides.org/en/news/74832-AMERICA_HAITI_The_resignation_of_the_Haitian_prime_minister_under_pressure_from_gang_violence_has_set_a_dangerous_precedenthttps://fides.org/en/news/74832-AMERICA_HAITI_The_resignation_of_the_Haitian_prime_minister_under_pressure_from_gang_violence_has_set_a_dangerous_precedentPort-au-Prince - "The resignation of the Prime Minister has made it clear that the plan of the armed groups to take power in Haiti has worked," said Sister Marcella Catozza of the Franciscan Sisters of Busto Arsizio, who has been in office since 20 He worked in Haiti for years in the “Kay Pè Giuss” orphanage in the Warf Jeremie shanty town, to Fides. Prime Minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign after Haitian criminal gangs prevented him from returning home. His resignation was one of the demands of the more than 300 armed gangs led by Jimmy Chérizier, known as "Barbecue" . <br />"The whole world called on the Prime Minister to resign and unfortunately the violence worked," emphasizes Sister Marcella in an interview with Fides. <br /><br />What is the situation in Haiti currently? <br />The reality in the country has not changed since the last few days: violence is still there, as shown by the murder of six police officers, schools, hospitals and universities are under attack, terror continues on the streets, people are afraid, there are no basic services, no water, everything is missing. At the moment we are in a stalemate. The prime minister has resigned and there is now a proposal to set up a seven-person interim presidential council, which the gangs have so far refused to recognize. So Haiti is in a kind of limbo. <br /><br />Is there a fear that the Haitian "model" could be imitated in other countries in the region? The fear is certainly justified, precisely because the Haitian gangs got what they wanted. And now everyone can try to get what they want in the same way. There is a real risk that other Caribbean countries will experience extreme violence similar to that which occurred in Haiti last year. The Americans have closed the waters off Florida because they fear a mass exodus with a massive influx of refugees, among whom criminal gangs could perhaps mix. <br /><br />The Country that most fears consequences for the chaos in Haiti is the Dominican Republic… Yes, and that is why the Dominican President declared Haitian Prime Minister Henry “persona non grata” by denying him permission to land his plane in the Dominican Republic. But even this stance was helpful to the Haitian gangs, who used extreme violence to force Ariel Henry's resignation. <br /><br />It is unclear whether there is a political concept behind all of this. <br /><br />At the moment it is difficult to understand who could be behind the gangs' actions. From my experience of 20 years in Haiti, I can say that I believe there is a plan, not least because of the silence of Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier after the resignation of Ariel Henry: It almost seems as if he is waiting for orders from someone to take the next step. Maybe that someone is waiting for the seven-name shortlist for the President's Transitional Council to be released. I definitely believe that someone is behind the gangs, also because the weapons I've seen them use are very modern. These criminals have drones, it's not that they only have machetes, they have that too, but they mainly have rifles and machine guns. One of these gangs is stationed right next to our house and we see boxes of new weapons arrive; we hear them testing the weapons. Boxes of weapons arrive periodically, which they then test, so we have learned to distinguish whether they are shots from a firefight or whether they are newly arrived weapons. This doesn't happen daily, but certainly weekly. In addition to the weapons, so-called "new soldiers" continue to arrive, boys who are recruited from the streets because they are hungry. In some cases, I have seen criminals in our area go "door to door": they go into houses and take the boys away from their families. That's why in June and July we tried to relocate the male youths who were housed in our facility because they were at risk of being forcibly recruited by the gangs. The latter are the only establishments in Haiti that can offer food. The generation that grew up in the last 20 years experienced the "economic boom" after the earthquake with the mass arrival of NGOs that brought money and humanitarian aid and offered relative prosperity , but built however on Nothing. So now young people are easy prey for criminal gangs, offering them a plate of rice and a weapon that "gives them power." In this way they recruit dozens of young people. Even the gang that runs our area forces all boys ages 16 and older to do two years of "military service" in their ranks. <br /><br />Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:52:19 +0100ASIA/VIETNAM - Deputy Interior Minister: “The Vietnamese government would be happy to welcome Pope Francis”https://fides.org/en/news/74831-ASIA_VIETNAM_Deputy_Interior_Minister_The_Vietnamese_government_would_be_happy_to_welcome_Pope_Francishttps://fides.org/en/news/74831-ASIA_VIETNAM_Deputy_Interior_Minister_The_Vietnamese_government_would_be_happy_to_welcome_Pope_FrancisHanoi - Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Interior Vu Chien Thang has assured that Vietnam and the Holy See respect each other and maintain friendly relations. He is confident that relations between the Vatican and Vietnam will continue to develop, reports the online newspaper "Dang Cong San Vietnam" , the party's official information organ. According to Thang, former head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, these relations will "create favorable conditions for the integration of the local Church with the universal Church", while "the seven million Vietnamese Catholics, with their presence and their work, will make a positive contribution to improving relations with to the Vatican". In this sense, a visit by the Pope to Vietnam is possible. "The Vietnamese government would be happy to welcome Pope Francis", said Thang, recalling that the path of mutual rapprochement led to the appointment of Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the first papal representative resident in Vietnam last December. Polish Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first resident representative of the Holy See in Hanoi, gave an interview to Father Joseph Ta Minh Quy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, which was broadcast and distributed through the media channels of the Vietnamese Bishops' Conference. <br />Archbishop Zalewski was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore and non-resident representative to Vietnam in 2018. "The first feeling I felt upon being appointed by the Pope," he said, "was the joy of being appointed resident papal representative in Vietnam. For the past five years, I have been traveling from Singapore to Vietnam. Now I have a residence and an office in Hanoi. This also gives me hope for a better future: I am here to work with the Catholic bishops for the good of the Church in Vietnam." "I think that my appointment can only improve the already good relations: we began maintaining regular contacts almost 12 years ago. In 2010, a Joint Commission was established between the Holy See and the Vietnamese government. The first papal representative for the country was Msgr. Leopoldo Girelli in 2011, and I am his successor. Now my title has changed. Our relations will be even stronger, better and more reliable, both for the Church and for the government," he emphasized. Archbishop Zalewski wanted to thank the Vietnamese government "for its openness and tolerance." "We have reached a level of good relations that was unthinkable ten years ago," said Zalewski. This is a great success that we can describe as historic. This was possible because we are committed to being tolerant and understanding one another, and because the Vietnamese faithful are committed to being 'good citizens and good Catholics'. This is possible if we follow the Gospel with good will and at the same time respect civil law." "Relations have improved and I hope they will continue to improve in the future," he said. "My hope, not only personal but also that of the Holy See, is that one day we can have full diplomatic relations with Vietnam." The Archbishop said he was "grateful to the Vietnamese bishops for their cooperation and understanding. I have to organize a lot of things, but with the help of God, the bishops and the government everything will be possible." Regarding his mission in the country, the papal representative said: "It is very important for the life of the Vietnamese Church. In the last five years I have been to Vietnam 36 times, not counting the pandemic years. I have visited almost all the dioceses and my impression of the Church in Vietnam has always been positive. It is a young, enthusiastic community, faithful to the Gospel, and I hope that Catholics will continue to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, faithful to his commandments, despite the many challenges and temptations”. Archbishop Zalewski thanked the government, the Episcopal Conference and all Vietnamese Catholics for the warm welcome and addressed a message to the faithful: "Try to be good Catholics, faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be joyful because, if we are joyful, people will follow us. It is very important that we express our faith in concrete actions, in works of charity, in caring for our neighbors, not just with words. I would like to wish you all a happy and blessed New Year. To your families, to all Catholic communities I say: God Almighty, bless you and bless Vietnam". <br />Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:05:00 +0100ASIA/IRAQ - Abolition of the quota of seats reserved for minorities in the Autonomous region of Kurdistan. Christian parties appeal to President Abdul Latif Rashidhttps://fides.org/en/news/74829-ASIA_IRAQ_Abolition_of_the_quota_of_seats_reserved_for_minorities_in_the_Autonomous_region_of_Kurdistan_Christian_parties_appeal_to_President_Abdul_Latif_Rashidhttps://fides.org/en/news/74829-ASIA_IRAQ_Abolition_of_the_quota_of_seats_reserved_for_minorities_in_the_Autonomous_region_of_Kurdistan_Christian_parties_appeal_to_President_Abdul_Latif_RashidBaghdad - Minority parties and organizations that demand political representation of Christian communities in Iraq continue their mobilization against the decision of the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court to annul the quota of seats reserved for deputies belonging to ethno-religious communities minority in the Parliament of the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan. In this context, a delegation of political representatives and activists belonging to the indigenous Christian communities was received on Tuesday, March 12 in Baghdad by Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid . <br />During the meeting, which took place at the Al Salam Presidential Palace - official sources from the Iraqi Presidency report - the Head of State recognized the importance of indigenous Christian communities as "an integral part of the interdependent diversity of the country's multicultural identity". The delegation of Christian politicians was led by Yaqoub Korkis Yaqu, Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement, and Romeo Hakkari, of the “Bet-Nahrain” Democratic Party. <br />The ruling of the Supreme Court the core of the complaints of political acronyms animated by Christian representatives, abolished the quota of 11 parliamentary seats reserved for minority ethnic and religious communities in the Parliament of the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan, where parliamentary elections should be held on June 10. According to Christian politicians, this provision is detrimental to the political rights of minority faith communities guaranteed by the Constitution. On Monday, March 11, leaders of other political groups represented by Jinan Jabbar, of the Chaldean National Party, had announced their intention to boycott the elections scheduled in the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan as a sign of protest against the controversial ruling of the Federal Supreme Court. On Saturday, March 9, in an interview with the Kurdish multimedia newspaper Rudaw, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, also declared that the provision to eliminate seats reserved for ethnic and religious minority groups is "unconstitutional", and expressed concern about interference and pressures that affect the decision-making processes of the Supreme Court. <br />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:32:02 +0100AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Zambian missionary murdered in South Africahttps://fides.org/en/news/74828-AFRICA_SOUTH_AFRICA_Zambian_missionary_murdered_in_South_Africahttps://fides.org/en/news/74828-AFRICA_SOUTH_AFRICA_Zambian_missionary_murdered_in_South_AfricaJohannesburg - A priest of Zambian origin was shot dead yesterday, March 13, in South Africa. Father William Banda of the St. Patrick's Society for Foreign Missions was shot dead as he prepared to celebrate Holy Mass at Tzaneen Cathedral. According to testimony, Father Banda was leading the prayer that precedes the 8 o'clock mass on the morning of March 13. The faithful present saw an unknown, very well-dressed African man enter the church, walk up to the priest and sit next to him. After praying the rosary, Father Banda went to the sacristy to prepare to celebrate morning mass. The stranger accompanied the priest into the sacristy. As the priest tried to enter, the murderer pulled a gun from his pocket and shot Father Band in the back of the head. The murderer made his way towards the exit of the church, but when he reached the threshold, he turned around, approached the priest's body and fired a second shot in the head. <br />Once he left the church, witnesses report that the murderer jumped into a car that was waiting for him, and then fled at full speed. The murder of the Catholic priest follows that of three Orthodox monks the day before, March 12, in the monastery of St. Mark and St. Bishop Samuel the Confessor, in Cullinan, about 30 km east of Pretoria. In a statement, the Coptic Orthodox Church said the monks shot were diocesan vicar Father Takla El-Samouili, as well as Father Youstos Ava-Markos and Father Mina Ava-Markostre. <br />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:50:57 +0100ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Ramadan: “Opportunity for dialogue”https://fides.org/en/news/74827-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Ramadan_Opportunity_for_dialoguehttps://fides.org/en/news/74827-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Ramadan_Opportunity_for_dialogueZamboanga City - "The period of the annual Ramadan in 2024, the holy month for the Muslim faithful, coincides with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the dialogue movement 'Silsilah'. The spirituality of 'Silsilah' is the "spirituality of life in dialogue". Therefore, this year with 'Silsilah' we would like to share a spiritual message of love with the Muslim Ummah and all of humanity. Love grows when there is a spirituality of deeper dialogue with God, with ourselves, with fellow human beings and with creation. This is what we call the spirituality of living in dialogue. This is the spirituality that we share with the Muslim faithful in our interreligious community Silsilah", the Italian missionary Father Sebastiano d'Ambra from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions to Fides in a comment on the message spread by the movement for Islamic-Christian dialogue "Silsilah", which he founded and operates in the southern Philippines, on the occasion of the holy month for the Islamic community. "The Silsilah dialogue movement sees the month of Ramadan as a fruitful opportunity for solidarity with the Muslim community in the Philippines and around the world," said the missionary. "We Christians – he adds - who experience a similar time of reflection to return to ourselves, Lent - empathize with the Muslim faithful. Fasting, prayer and charity are the cornerstones of the Spirituality of Ramadan, which is admired by people of different religions. This practice leads the Muslim community towards the 'great jihad', which is by no means the 'holy war' but rather the struggle for the purification of the heart". "The concept of dialogue as an expression of love is what we try to live and share in so many ways," the message says, "and we see that the spirit of Ramadan is a path in this direction. Also "If all religions have specific forms of fasting, prayer and charity, we must agree on the central point of spirituality, namely love". "At a critical time in history marked by disasters, climate change and signs of world war, we must come together in the spirit of Ramadan to reflect on what we can do together to promote love in all areas," the text continues. "We are deeply convinced that the culture of dialogue is the path to peace and that true peace is nourished by love. The world today must be united around the many dramatic events in history. We are invited to reflect on what we can do to promote a genuine dialogue with Creation". During Ramadan, concludes Father D'Ambra, "we are all invited to reflect on the urgency of a shared commitment to protecting Mother Earth, our 'common home', and to make decisions and do works of peace today, in a mission that we must fulfill together, a mission of fasting from our selfishness in order to put love for God, love for neighbor and love for creation back at the center of life". Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:43:15 +0100AFRICA/MOROCCO - Sister Maria Viader Alberich appointed National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societieshttps://fides.org/en/news/74825-AFRICA_MOROCCO_Sister_Maria_Viader_Alberich_appointed_National_Director_of_the_Pontifical_Mission_Societieshttps://fides.org/en/news/74825-AFRICA_MOROCCO_Sister_Maria_Viader_Alberich_appointed_National_Director_of_the_Pontifical_Mission_SocietiesVatican City - On January 16, 2024, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, appointed Sister Maria Viader Alberich, RJM. National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Morocco for five years. <br />Sister Maria Viader Alberich, Spanish, who comes from Spain, is 58 years old and has been a nun for 35 years. She holds a canonical licentiate in pedagogy/educational sciences from the University of Valencia, a master's degree in leadership for the development of ecclesial organizations from the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid and a master's degree in International Cooperation from the University of Sevilla. She has worked in various educational and pastoral areas, mainly in socio economically disadvantaged areas. From 2001 to 2011 she was the headmistress of a primary school in Equatorial Guinea, where she also set up a secondary school and worked in another school to promote women. She was Provincial Councilor of the African Delegation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary for five years and President of the Association of Catholic Educational Centers of Equatorial Guinea . In 2011 she returned to Spain and took on various leadership roles in her religious institute. From 2014 to 2018 she was a Provincial Councilor responsible for the Formation and Teacher of the Religious sisters with temporary vows in the Spanish province and from 2018 to 2022 she was a Provincial Councilor and Treasurer of the same Province. In 2022, she was sent to the Archdiocese of Tangier, Morocco as Director of the Sacred Heart and Dar Tika Nursery, a facility for at-risk or abused girls. She is also a member of the Council for Economic Affairs and Delegate of the Missionary Societies of the Archdiocese of Tangier. <br />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:32:22 +0100ASIA/KOREA - Resignation and appointment of Bishop of Uijeongbuhttps://fides.org/en/news/74824-ASIA_KOREA_Resignation_and_appointment_of_Bishop_of_Uijeongbuhttps://fides.org/en/news/74824-ASIA_KOREA_Resignation_and_appointment_of_Bishop_of_UijeongbuVatican City - On March 13, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Uijeongbu, Korea, presented by Bishop Peter Ki-Heon Lee.<br />The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Benedict Hee-song Son, titular of Campli, until now auxiliary and vicar general of the archdiocese of Seoul, Korea, as bishop of the diocese of Uijeongbu. <br />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:26:39 +0100AMERICA/BELIZE - Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop of Belize City-Belmopanhttps://fides.org/en/news/74823-AMERICA_BELIZE_Resignation_of_Auxiliary_Bishop_of_Belize_City_Belmopanhttps://fides.org/en/news/74823-AMERICA_BELIZE_Resignation_of_Auxiliary_Bishop_of_Belize_City_BelmopanVatican City - On March 13, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Belize City-Belmopan, Belize, presented by Bishop Christopher J. Glancy, C.S.V. <br />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:22:40 +0100AMERICA/CHILE - XI anniversary of the Pope's Election: Pope Francis' teachings for Chile todayhttps://fides.org/en/news/74819-AMERICA_CHILE_XI_anniversary_of_the_Pope_s_Election_Pope_Francis_teachings_for_Chile_todayhttps://fides.org/en/news/74819-AMERICA_CHILE_XI_anniversary_of_the_Pope_s_Election_Pope_Francis_teachings_for_Chile_todaySantiago - "The Pope wants to lead us to make Jesus the center of our lives and the Gospel our calling card in personal, family, social and economic life", said Archbishop of Santiago Fernando Chomalì on the occasion of the 11th. Anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. <br />"Today, March 13, 2024, the whole world celebrates this anniversary, and we in Santiago also pray for him and spread his rich magisterium," emphasizes the Archbishop in his message with good wishes for the Holy Father. "His teachings can help us get out of the serious spiritual crisis we are going through, which has led to a deep social and political crisis." "The Pope speaks to us of mercy, he invites us to share the goods we have at our disposal with those most in need, in the midst of so much avarice and attraction to the superfluous. He invites us, in the midst of so much arrogance and pride, to be at the service of others in the midst of the many voices seeking power. Finally, he invites us to greater spiritual depth and discernment in the midst of so much worldliness, even among believers." “Chile is experiencing an unprecedented security crisis that alarms and frightens us,” emphasizes Archbishop Chomalì. “And the Pope invites us to broaden our gaze, to see through the eyes of the poorest. I think that in Chile we need to look beyond borders and understand ourselves as a community. Francis asked himself the question of the world we will leave behind for future generations from the first moment of his inauguration. Each of us must answer this question in the light of the teachings of Peter's successor and Vicar of Christ. Universal fraternity is his great longing, care for the common home is his great project. A poor church for the poor is his great dream, the transition from an ecclesiastical and vertical culture to an ecclesiastical and horizontal culture, in which the common journey is the norm. That is why the Pope urges us to pray continually, as the first communities did, and to share with those most in need. Making the Gospel come alive in everyday life is the path that the Pope proposes for the Church, without shouting, but with sensitivity, with the heart and with great humility. We are called upon to do the same by critically examining our gestures, our words and our actions." <br />“The Pope calls each of us to seriously commit to a more just society and not stand still and wait, observe, criticize without doing anything. And for this reason - concludes Archbishop Chomalì - there is only one path, to know, believe, follow and imitate Jesus". <br />Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:20:20 +0100AFRICA/TANZANIA - Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of Mbeyahttps://fides.org/en/news/74822-AFRICA_TANZANIA_Appointment_of_Auxiliary_Bishop_of_Mbeyahttps://fides.org/en/news/74822-AFRICA_TANZANIA_Appointment_of_Auxiliary_Bishop_of_MbeyaVatican City - On March 9, the Holy Father appointed the Reverend Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Mbeya, Tanzania, until now vicar general of Mbeya and parish priest of Saint Francis of Assisi in Mwanjelwa, as auxiliary bishop of the same metropolitan archdiocese of Mbeya, assigning him the titular see of Thuburbo minus.<br />Msgr. Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga was born on 7 March 1976 in Kyela, Mbeya. He studied at the Saint Augustin Major Seminary in Peramiho and was ordained a priest on 14 July 2005 for the clergy of Mbeya.<br />After ordination, he first held the roles of deputy parish priest of Saint Peter Claver in Mlowo , director of the Catechesis Office of the archdiocese and director of the Catechetical Training Center . He was awarded a licentiate in sacred theology from the San Tommaso Theological Institute in Messina, Italy, and a doctorate in theology from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome , and went on to serve as parish priest of Saint Peter Claver in Mlowo . Since 2017 he has been director of the Catechesis Office of the archdiocese and director of the Catechetical Training Center and coordinator of liturgy; and since 2019, vicar general of the archdiocese of Mbeya and parish priest of Saint Francis of Assisi in Mwanjelwa. <br />Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:05:53 +0100AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Appointment of Bishop of Miarinarivohttps://fides.org/en/news/74821-AFRICA_MADAGASCAR_Appointment_of_Bishop_of_Miarinarivohttps://fides.org/en/news/74821-AFRICA_MADAGASCAR_Appointment_of_Bishop_of_MiarinarivoVatican City - On March 9, the Holy Father appointed the Reverend Msgr. Jean Claude Rakotoarisoa, of the clergy of the diocese of Tsiroanomandidy, until now vicar general and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Madagascar, as bishop of the diocese of Miarinarivo, Madagascar.<br />Msgr. Jean Claude Rakotoarisoa was born on 4 October 1972 in Tsiroanomandidy. After his studies in the minor and preparatory seminary in Tsiroanomandidy, he studied philosophy at the Saint Paul Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Manantenasoa-Antsirabe. After two years of pastoral experience in the minor seminary of Tsiroanomandidy, he studied theology at the Saint Pierre Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Ambatoroka-Antananarivo. He was ordained a priest on 29 August 1999 for the diocese of Tsiroanomandidy.<br />He was awarded a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic Institute of Madagascar, Antananarivo , and went on to serve as vicar of the Cathedral of Tsiroanomandidy , diocesan bursar and secretary of Tsiroanomandidy , interim director of the Catholic High School of Tsiroanomandidy , and vicar of the district of Andranomadio , parish priest of the district of Andranomadio . He studied in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University from 2010 to 2016, receiving a licentiate and doctorate in canon law, and went on to serve as diocesan administrator of Tsiroanomandidy . Since 2021, he has held the office of vicar general of Tsiroanomandidy and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Madagascar. <br />Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:54:35 +0100ASIA/INDONESIA - Resignation and appointment of Metropolitan Archbishop of Kupanghttps://fides.org/en/news/74820-ASIA_INDONESIA_Resignation_and_appointment_of_Metropolitan_Archbishop_of_Kupanghttps://fides.org/en/news/74820-ASIA_INDONESIA_Resignation_and_appointment_of_Metropolitan_Archbishop_of_KupangVatican City - On March 9, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kupang, Indonesia, presented by Archbishop Peter Turang.<br />The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Hironimus Pakaenoni, of the clergy of Kupang, until now formator at the Saint Michael Interdiocesan Seminary of Kupang and lecturer at the Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira.<br />Msgr. Hironimus Pakaenoni was born on 14 April 1969 in Noemuti, diocese of Atambua. He attended the minor seminary of Lalian, diocese of Atambua, and then the Ritapiret Interdiocesan Major Seminary, diocese of Maumere, following courses in philosophy at the Superior School of Ledalero. After a pastoral year in the archdiocese of Kupang, he continued his studies in theology in Ritapiret and Ledalero.<br />He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1997, and incardinated in Kupang.<br />After ordination, he first held the roles of parish vicar in the parish of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Kupang and parish priest of the Saint Petrus Community in Sulamu . He was awarded a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome , and went on to serve as parish vicar of Saint Gregory the Great in Oloeta , formator of the Saint Michael Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Kupang and lecturer in dogmatic theology at the Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira in Kupang ; dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of Religion of the Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira in Kupang , and chair of the Swastisari Educational Foundation . <br />Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:52:11 +0100ASIA/MALAYSIA - The ecclesial community of Malaysia welcomes and prepares for the baptism of more than 1,700 adultshttps://fides.org/en/news/74817-ASIA_MALAYSIA_The_ecclesial_community_of_Malaysia_welcomes_and_prepares_for_the_baptism_of_more_than_1_700_adultshttps://fides.org/en/news/74817-ASIA_MALAYSIA_The_ecclesial_community_of_Malaysia_welcomes_and_prepares_for_the_baptism_of_more_than_1_700_adultsKuala Lumpur - In recent years, the Catholic community in Malaysia has registered an increasing number of adults requesting baptism. Adults wishing to be baptized undertake a path corresponding to the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" that the various dioceses have organized in response to the growing number of requests from parishes. More than 1,700 Malaysian catechumens are currently preparing to receive baptism at the Easter Vigil 2024. A total of 547 catechumens from various parishes met in the Church of the Holy Family in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur together with catechists, godparents, priests and numerous believers for the "Rite of Election". Archbishop Julian Leow reminded them of Abraham's faithfulness, who was willing to sacrifice his only son Isaac out of obedience to the Lord. The Archbishop also emphasized the obedience of Jesus, who was faithful to his mission: to sacrifice himself to bring salvation to all. The Archbishop reminded those chosen of their obligation to remain faithful to God: "In the rite of election, God has personally called you to belong to his chosen people. This is a beautiful thing that must be celebrated." In the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, a total of 941 catechumens from 20 parishes in the area were officially registered in the "Book of the Elect". Archbishop John Wong, who presided over the special celebration at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, warmly welcomed them and invited each of them to ask themselves the key question: "Who is Jesus for you? Who is Jesus in your life now? Have you had any experiences with him? Have you accepted him as your God and Savior?". "Baptism is only the beginning of following Jesus", the Prelate said, reminding the catechumens that the choice to receive baptism "is a decision for life, not a passing fad". The Archbishop also urged them to continue to connect with Jesus through prayer, reading and reflection on the Word of God, "to cling to Jesus, to lean on him and to let him strengthen them." <br />The Diocese of Melaka-Johor also recently gathered 240 catechumens first for a spiritual retreat - the first post-pandemic retreat - and then for the celebration of the "Rite of Election" at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Johor Bahru. In his homily, Bishop Bernard Paul emphasized the importance of three special and indispensable gifts that baptismal candidates receive on their journey of faith: Christ Crucified, the Bible and the Eucharist. "Live and contemplate the beauty and power of these gifts in the time of personal preparation, but not only that, but throughout life", he said. The "Rite of Christian initiation of Adults" - explains the Malaysian Church - "is a spiritual path undertaken in the company of priests, catechists and with the support of the ecclesial community. It accompanies the discovery of faith through teaching, sharing, prayers, community services, communion and other forms of experiential exercises". The "Rite of Election" marks the end of the catechumenate period. In this rite, which usually takes place at the beginning of Lent, the ecclesial community, on the basis of the witness of the godparents and catechists and the will expressed by the catechumens, makes the "election" by inviting them to receive the sacraments of initiation. The catechumens sign their names in the "Book of the Elect" as a pledge of loyalty. During Lent they continue the journey with three "tests" , reciting the "Creed" and the "Our Father". The process ends with the celebration of the Sacraments of Christian initiation at the Easter Vigil. Of Malaysia's 23 million inhabitants, 60.4% are Muslim and 9.1% are Christian. The number of Catholics, spread across nine dioceses on Peninsular Malaysia and the island region of Borneo, is approximately 1.3 million. <br /><br />Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:03:45 +0100AFRICA/NIGERIA - Mass kidnappings widespread: a criminal and political phenomenon rather than “religious”https://fides.org/en/news/74818-AFRICA_NIGERIA_Mass_kidnappings_widespread_a_criminal_and_political_phenomenon_rather_than_religioushttps://fides.org/en/news/74818-AFRICA_NIGERIA_Mass_kidnappings_widespread_a_criminal_and_political_phenomenon_rather_than_religiousAbuja - The Safe Schools Initiative, a Nigerian organization founded after the kidnapping of 276 students from a secondary school in Chibok in 2014 and is committed to protecting schools from terrorist attacks, announces the mass kidnappings of students in 14 states in Nigeria. <br />The alarming statistics were released following the abduction of 287 students in Kuriga, Chikun local government area, Kaduna State , and another 15 students in the village of Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto State, while also about 300 internally displaced people are missing after the attack by jihadists from the Islamic State West African Province on the Babba Sansani camp near Lake Chad in Borno State. The warning applies to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, Abuja, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau and Zamfara states, the federal capital area of Abuja and three other unspecified states. <br />The interpretation of this wave of mass kidnappings varies. Some see this as a "religious" attempt by jihadist groups to terrorize the local population in order to drive the jihadist wave towards the coast and thus take up an old project of the Sokoto Caliphate to expand to the Atlantic. The fact that both Christians and Muslims are being kidnapped suggests a more political interpretation, namely the interest of political and criminal power groups in weakening the government of President Bola Tinubu, who took office in May 2023. In addition, the kidnappings are committed by different groups, which speaks more to a political and sometimes purely criminal interpretation than to a religious interpretation. In the case of the kidnapping of the Kuriga school students, the main suspect is said to be a group of armed Fulani herdsmen acting on behalf of Dogo Gide, a notorious kidnapping criminal who was already involved in the kidnapping of 126 Students at Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Maraban, Kaduna State, in July 2021. <br />The figure of Dogo Gide is paradigmatic for understanding the links between jihadism and banditry in northern Nigeria. As the Nigerian press reported, he escaped death in early December after the group he led fell victim to a joint attack by jihadists from ISWAP and ANSARU . Gide had previously sought a tactical agreement with ANSARU to counter ISWAP's dominance in its strongholds in Niger State. The later failed agreement aimed to promote an alliance with ANSARU in Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria. The presence of various armed actors, jihadists, Fulani herdsmen and criminal gangs allied and competing with each other is increasing insecurity across north-central Nigeria. Those who suffer are the families of the hostages, who have to pay ransoms by selling their property and businesses in order to buy their relatives' freedom. <br /><br />Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:36:13 +0100