Latest News
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The Fall of D.R.Congo’s War Lord Bosco Caught many by Surprise
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 predicted by any analyst of the CRD conflict. An impressive security detail accompanies him everywhere, clearly he was afraid. His fear was so great that…
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Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is 30 years old
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 ).
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Bosco Ntaganda in no longer a threat to Congolese citizens
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 to the International Criminal Court (ICC).” This surrender is not the direct result of military action of the Congolese government, but a military defeat of…
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The Transformation Resource Center of Lesotho wins the 2013 AFJN Faith and Justice Award
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 that since 1979 has advocated for justice, peace and participatory development for poor and marginalized people. Today its focus is to promote–in Lesotho–democracy, human rights,…
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Roots and Routes of Justice Ministry in Africa
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 Conference on March 2, 2013. He begins with the roots and routes revealed in the Old Testament and culminates his speech in Jesus Christ. By…
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Lessons from Pope Benedict XVI and the Papal Election
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 28, 2013, citing among other reasons, the need for one who is strong enough to meet the challenges of the “Petrine” Ministry. Along with the…
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AFJN’s Rev. Aniedi Okure and Jacques Bahati on NPR’s All things considered on Catholicism in Africa
When Pope Benedict XVI said he was stepping down, he broke a tradition that had been in place since 1415.
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Straight Talk Africa Guest Rev. Okure Examine if African Leaders Can Learn from the Pope’s Retirement
African leaders can learn from the Pope resignation says AFJN Executive Director Aniedi Okure in an interview with Straight Talk Africa. To read Rev. Okure’s article “Lessons from Pope Benedict XVI and the Papal Election” on this topic click here.
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AFJN quoted in article in Redress Information & Analysis on Ethiopia and Ogaden people
In the harsh Ogaden region of Ethiopia, impoverished ethnic Somali people are being murdered and tortured, raped, persecuted and displaced by government paramilitary forces.
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President Obama’s Second Term: looking ahead and looking back on his Africa policies
By Bahati Jacques, Policy Analyst. This article was first published in our Oct-Dec 2012 “Around Africa” newsletter What kind of Africa policy will President Barack Obama adopt during his second term? Who will the new key players be in his administration? These questions are debated each time US citizens exercise their democratic right to free…
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Support for African Women Researchers
This article was first published in our Oct-Dec 2012 “Around Africa” newsletter Funders have renewed support for African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), a program that helps women in Sub-Saharan countries develop leadership and scientific skills. A second grant, spanning five years, was announced in October, and comprised of US$14 million from the…
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Mali: A State in Crisis
By Melaura Homan-Smith, AFJN Program Coordinator This article was first published in our Oct-Dec 2012 “Around Africa” newsletter On Wednesday, December 5th AFJN attended a hearing entitled: “Addressing Developments in Mali: Restoring Democracy and Reclaiming the North” held by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, and chaired by Chris Coons, a…
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Ghana: Religious Bodies Meet Political Leaders
By Rita Murphy This article was first published in our Oct-Dec 2012 “Around Africa” newsletter The Ghana Conference on Religion and Peace (GCRP) called on stakeholders of the general elections to ensure that peace prevailed during the elections. Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Chairperson of the GCRP, made…
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President Obama asks Rwandan President to permanently ending all support to armed groups in the DRC
Below is the White House Press release about the call President Obama made to President Kagame Source: The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 18, 2012 “Readout of the President’s Call with President Kagame President Obama spoke today with President Kagame to discuss the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the…
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Open letter by 144 NGOs and Civil Society groups to DRC President Kabila
Mr. President, “The bill on the organization, composition, powers and functioning of the High Council of Defense, already passed by both Houses of Parliament, has been waiting to be signed into law by His Excellency the President of the Republic for more than a year, while the Supreme Court in its decree R. Const.179/TSR, declared…
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Update on the diplomatic effort regarding the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In April 2012, a number of Congolese soldiers mutinied after the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) President Joseph Kabila decided to arrest one of the nation’s armed forces generals, Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted by the International criminal Court (ICC). The incident became an opportunity for Rwandan President Paul Kagame to act out his…
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South SUDAN: Cardinal Warns Against Oil Exploiters
Source: Christian Telegraph here http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue18327.html Cardinal John Onaiyekan from Nigeria has warned South Sudan against foreign oil exploiters and conmen saying that if used well oil money can be good while it can be bad if it is misappropriated and can be a source of problems, reports CISA. He cautioned that the foreign exploiters normally…
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Amnesty International Urges President Ouattara to Approve Côte d’Ivoire’s Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Amnesty International Press Release Source: http://www.amnestyusa.org Thursday, December 13, 2012 Contact: Suzanne Trimel, strimel@aiusa.org, 212-633-4150, @strimel (Washington, D.C.) – After a delegation from Amnesty International met Wednesday (Dec. 12), with Guillaume Kigbafori Soro, current president of the National Assembly and former prime minister of Ivory Coast, Frank Jannuzi, Amnesty International deputy executive director and head…
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International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber II acquits Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui
Source: http://www.icc-cpi.int Press Release : 18/12/2012 Situation: The Democratic Republic of the Congo Case: The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui Today, 18 December 2012, Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The decision was taken unanimously by the Chamber composed…
