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Year: 2013

We urgently need your voice to help end 17 years of rape, kidnapping, and killings in D.R. Congo

May 24, 2013

Every day in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo there are news reports of kidnapping for ransom, targeted assassinations, rape and looting by armed groups. On May 15, H.Res 131,…

Oxford University: Rwanda President Kagame is controversial, but welcome

May 23, 2013

Oxford University distanced itself from Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s presence on campus. He was invited by Oxford Business Network for Africa to attend their conference at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School on May 18, 2013. Characterizing President Kagame as a “controversial figure”, the university said that “this invitation and President Kagame’s presence in the Saïd Business School does not imply any endorsement by the School or the University of his views or actions.”

D.R. Congo: Rwandan troops fighting alongside rebels to capture the city of Goma

May 22, 2013

Despite the international pressure, President Kagame remains defiant. For a month now, North Kivu civil society and others have reported increased crossings of Rwandan soldiers into DRC to help M23…

Answers to those challenging US conflict mineral law, section 1502 of Dodd-Frank

May 21, 2013

Today, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade held a hearing on the “The Unintended Consequences of Dodd-Frank’s Conflict Minerals Provision.” Africa Faith and Justice Network…

Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Liberia

May 21, 2013

One of Africa’s outstanding advocates for justice, human rights and good governance, Emeritus Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Monrovia died Sunday May 19, 2013 in Monrovia, Liberia. A courageous preacher…

The Epidemic of Land Grabbing is Worse than Colonization: US Companies are Part of the Rip off

April 26, 2013

By Jacques Bahati Advocates, mostly African diaspora, gathered on March 15 in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill to call attention to the tragic effects of  land grabbing…

Capitol Hill: the National Bar Association brainstorming on how to help Africa

April 25, 2013

On March 17, the National Bar Association (NBA), the oldest and largest association of African-American attorneys, judges and law students in the United States and the Constituency for Africa (CFA),…

US soon to appoint Special Envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region.

April 23, 2013

On April 17, US Secretary of State John Kerry, during a hearing on the budget, told congress that President Obama has chosen and is vetting a person to appoint as…

US Senate: Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo

April 17, 2013

On April 16, the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) entitled “Examining Ongoing…

A Tribute to the Life of AFJN’s First Director, Sjef Donders in independent catholic news

April 11, 2013

Fr Joseph Donders, widely known as ‘Sjef’, died on 7 March 2013 in hospital in Maastricht (Holland) aged 83.

President Thomas Sankara’s Leadership on Arms trade to Africa

April 9, 2013

Updated on April 9, 2013  This article was first published in AFJN’s January-March 2013 Newsletter On March 18-28, 2013 the UN held in New York the final conference on arms…

ICC Justice is for Bosco Ntaganda not for the Victims

April 9, 2013

This article was first published in AFJN’s January-March Newsletter By Jacques Bahati, Policy Analyst On March 18, General Bosco Ntaganda, one of the notorious rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic…

The Fall of D.R.Congo’s War Lord Bosco Caught many by Surprise

March 26, 2013

After the conviction and sentencing of Thomas Lubanga, calls for the arrest of his collaborator, Bosco Ntaganda intensified.   But, Bosco’s surrender to the US Embassy on March 18 was never…

Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is 30 years old

March 21, 2013

This year from 1st – 3rd March, Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) organized a conference in Notre Dame University (South Bend – Indiana) in order to celebrate the 30 years of existence (1983-2013). Our confrere Joseph (Sjef) Donders was the founder of this experience of inter-Congregational collaboration for Africa based in Washington . He is still fondly remembered in the United States by different people because his commitment in the US has been long and has reached several areas (cf. his article in the Petit Echo n° 1015/2010/9 ).

Bosco Ntaganda in no longer a threat to Congolese citizens

March 18, 2013

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s war lord, General Bosco Ntaganda, surrended himself to the US Embassy in Rwanda.   BBC reported:  “The state department said he had asked to be transferred…

The Transformation Resource Center of Lesotho wins the 2013 AFJN Faith and Justice Award

March 2, 2013

Africa Faith & Justice Network proudly bestows its Faith and Justice Award for 2013 to the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) located in Maseru, Lesotho.  TRC is an ecumenical nongovernmental organization…

Roots and Routes of Justice Ministry in Africa

March 2, 2013

Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, prepared “Roots and Routes of Justice Ministry in Africa” a keynote address for AFJN’s 30th Anniversary…

2013 Meeting / 30th Anniversary

March 1, 2013

AFJN celebrates 30 years!

Lessons from Pope Benedict XVI and the Papal Election

March 1, 2013

By Aniedi Okure, OP, Executive Director On February 10, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by announcing that he would relinquish the office of Bishop of Rome effective February…

AFJN’s Rev. Aniedi Okure and Jacques Bahati on NPR’s All things considered on Catholicism in Africa

February 25, 2013

When Pope Benedict XVI said he was stepping down, he broke a tradition that had been in place since 1415.