News
December 2, 2020By Mariah Omer, AFJN Intern Both the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) prohibit the overthrow of democratically elected governments by the…
Out of the 193 total United Nations (UN) Member states, 54 represent African countries. Only four women representing their own countries have addressed its General Assembly. This is an important forum for a head of state to not only represent their country internationally, but also to stand out by making the country’s position on issues known on an international scale.
This year’s prestigious Time 100 most influential people was released on Sept. 23. Among them is Julie Mehretu. She is an Ethiopian-born visual artist known for the exploration of multiple…
On October, 26, 2020, Timileyin Omilana notes the Africa Faith and Justice Network’s (AFJN) position that “the persistence and the complication of wars in Africa are partially due to small arms proliferation” in the article “How proliferation of small arms is enhancing violence in Nigeria, says report” published in The Guardian Nigeria News. Read the full article here.
On October 23 2020, Patrick Egwu’s article “Nigerian Catholics stand with anti-police brutality demonstrators” in The Catholic World Report quotes Rev. Aniedi Okure, AFJN Exe. Dir. Rev. Okure says ““Nigerian…
On October 23, 2020, Patrick Egwu’s article “Nigeria’s Catholic leaders call for an end to crackdown on #EndSARS protestors” in America quotes Rev. Aniedi Okure, AFJN Executive Director. In the…
Fr. Thomas P. Tunney, C.S.Sp. of Bethel Park, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and former member of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN)’s Board of Directors (2013-2017), died peacefully on October 14, 2020 at Manor Care in Whitehall, PA. He was 85 years old.
On October 14, 2020 the Africa Faith and Justice Network blessed their new office space virtually. Video of the event is available here and on the Africa Faith and Justice Network’s YouTube channel.
The Africa Faith and Justice Network welcomes our fall interns: Yousra Hasona, Iman Mekonen, and Mariah Omer.
Yousra Hasona is a lawyer and researcher from Palestine. She have a master degree in criminal law, and currently a master student at conflict management and humanitarian work program, she is working mainly on the issue of child soldiers and restorative justice especially in the Arab Spring countries.
Please join us as we welcome Rev. John Bosco Lugonja to the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) as our newest fellow.
The USAID Summit on Strategic Religious Engagement began in 2020. The event was originally to be held in Washington, DC in October and would have various types of engagement but due to COVID-19, it had to be moved online. The Africa Faith and Justice Network was able to submit a poster presentation “People Centered Projects Transforming Communities.”
Aniedi Okure is a Catholic priest and a member of the Order of Preachers (OP). Since 2011, he has served as the Executive Director of Africa Faith & Justice Network (AFJN). Under his leadership AFJN has expanded its personnel and programs; from a Washington focus on United States-Africa policy to building coalitions of Africans across the continent and engaging them in social analysis and practical advocacy for systemic change in their communities.
Mariah Omer is a candidate in the MA: Theology and Peace Studies program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. She is completing a first year of study and is expecting to graduate in May 2021.
To prevent and stop the global economy from further collapsing, as was the case in 2008, to protect further losses of U.S. jobs, and to save lives the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is asking the Senate to support the issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The SDRs are special bonds to member nations and SDRs do not cost the U.S. anything. We are also asking for debt relief and additional foreign aid to respond to humanitarian crises and COVID-19 related challenges.
Iman is a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she majors in international social justice studies and minors in political science. She is also studying Arabic as her language of choice. In the local community, she serves as a youth mentor for underrepresented communities and is a member of VCU Globe, a globally focused organization that interacts with international students and community members. At VCU, Iman works as the editor of the Spectrum (Arts & Culture) section of The Commonwealth Times, VCU’s student newspaper, where she reports on the arts and culture scene in Richmond.
On September 17, Africa faith and Justice Network was one of 17 faith based organization which sent the letter below urging Senators to act on a global response to COVOD-19 to save lives, protect the global economy and jobs in the US and abroad. We are calling on every Senator to support: the issuance of 2 trillion in IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR), expanding debt relief, Twenty billion in foreign aid. Why is this relevant to the American people? Part of the answer is in the July 9, 2020 letter by twenty nine Senators to the Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer in which they said: “it is clear that no matter how successful we are at fighting COVID-19 here at home, we will never stop its spread – or prevent it from rebounding back to our shores – if we are not also fighting it around the world. U.S. global leadership in combatting COVID-19 is directly tied to protecting the health, security, and economic interests of all Americans.”
The African Faith & Justice Network (AFJN), a Catholic education and advocacy network based in Washington DC, seeks a full-time Executive Director to lead the network’s growing impact in Africa and the U.S. The position involves advocacy with U.S and African Government entities as well as significant travel to Africa.
On August 27, 2020 the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) said goodbye to Lucy Huffman, a dear friend passionately dedicated to the mission. Not even ill health could deter her from serving.
