Latest News
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Ethnicity in Africa: a road to conflict or a path to peace?
When analyzing conflict in African, many experts consider ethnicity as a major cause of conflict, but few consider it as a potential tool for lasting peace. Past and ongoing crises in Africa like the Rwandan genocide, the crisis in Darfur, the civil wars in Nigeria, the quarrels between the whites and blacks in Zimbabwe or…
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Africa and Madagascar Bishops Seek Observer Status at the African Union
This article is from the April-June issue of Around Africa, AFJN’s quarterly newsletter. The Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) reaffirmed its commitment to seek observer status at the African Union (AU) during its meeting in March 2011, in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). …
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Arms control: what was done and what needs to be done
By Alyse Martin Arms’ trafficking in Africa is an issue that should be monitored. Wars in African countries are fought with the illicit small arms that are smuggled in from across the globe. According to the UN, access to illegal arms in African nations, “fuels conflict, contributes to poverty, and stalls development.” The use of…
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Conflict Minerals: Responsible supply chain and sourcing mechanism a must
From June 20-21st, the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) organized a conference on extractive supply chain which focused mostly on tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. The conference was intended to provide information and updates on responsible supply chain,…
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The Church Responds in Kenya
Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Kenya: “We the Bishops of Kenya, with deep concern wish to address all our Christians and Kenyans in general, at this critical and crucial moment of our country. We have witnessed with deep sorrow and concern the outbreak of violence and the breakdown of law and order that has…
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Making the Case for Africa Together
One of the strengths of having the headquarters of the Africa Faith and Justice Network in Washington, DC is the opportunity to collaborate with other progressive Africa groups that follow the many issues that call for education and advocacy. One such gathering is the monthly meeting of the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA). This long…
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A Panel Discussion with Dr. Denis Mukwege, Panzi Hospital, DRC
On Thursday, June 30, Africa Faith and Justice Network staff and interns attended a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars entitled “Sexual Violence and the Political and Security Implications in the Congo.” Panelists included Maria Otero, the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Dr….
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Extractive Industries in Chad
On June 15th AFJN had the pleasure of attending an event featuring Delphine Djiraibe, a prominent human rights activist in Chad. Her talk, along with input from other organizations, shed light on current conditions in Chad as a result of predatory extractive industries and what US policy and advocacy can do about it. When the…
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Ivory Coast: US Senator Inhofe To Save Gbagbo, But What About The People?
by Bahati Jacques On several occasions US Senator Inhofe has called for the release of former President of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo and that he be allowed an honorable exit into exile. In his opening remarks during a Senate Foreign Relations hearing on May 19th 2011, Senator Inhofe argued that allowing Gbagbo and his wife…
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AFRICOM’s Headquarters May Not Move After All
Posted May 23rd, this article is cross-posted from the Africa Human Security Working Group site While US Senators from Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina vie to host AFRICOM’s new headquarters, the location is still very much up in the air, even regarding which continent. There has been much resistance in Africa for a headquarters on the…
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U.S. Special Envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region: Senators’ Letter to Obama.
On May 9th, 19 members of the US Senate sent a letter to President Obama encouraging him to swiftly appoint a Special Representative to Africa’s Great lakes region. Given the multiple challenges in the region, the Senators stated that the appointment of a high level member of the administration who would answer directly to the…
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2011 Meeting
AFJN had its annual member meeting at a well-attended reception. Fr. Rocco Puopolo addressed the audience, highlighting some of AFJN’s Successes and sharing AFJN’s end-of-year financial information.
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US Department of State reacts to NGOs and Congress’s Push for Africa’s Great Lakes Special Envoy Appointment
The Obama administration continues to give excuses regarding the overdue appointment of a special envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region. Following a strong call for the appointment of a special envoy during a hearing on March 8th and a online petition by Africa Faith and Justice Network, A Thousand Sisters, Enough Project, Falling Whistles, Free the…
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Who’s Denying Genocide?
NEWS ADVISORY -International Humanitarian Law Institute (U.S.A.) – —For the advancement of due process and equality before the law, in the theory and practice of International criminal law— Director: Prof. Peter Erlinder c/o William Mitchell College of Law (est. 1900) Saint Paul, MN 55105, U.S.A. Tel: (1)651-290-6384/Fax: (1)651-290-6406 Contact: Dr. Christine Schoettler, PhD. (fr) cschoettler@comcast.net…
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Congressional Briefing on the UN Mapping Report Exercise
Download PDF file here The widespread impunity in the DRC and the lack of accountability for crimes detailed in the UN Mapping Exercise Report is appalling. Seeking peace, stability and justice in the Congo is not only in the best interest of every nation in the region, but also in line with American democratic values. The seriousness…
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Attorney Sanctioned Despite Medical Symptoms From Rwanda Detention: Consistent with ICTR Cover-up of RPF Crimes
International Humanitarian Law Institute News Advisory Contact: Dr. Christine Schoettler, PhD. (fr) cschoettler@comcast.net Andrea Palumbo, JD. (eng) andrea.m.palumbo@gmail.com St. Paul, MN – April 27 — A 4-hour ICTR Appeal Chamber hearing will complete the 8-year case against Maj. Aloys Ntabakuze, who was acquitted of conspiracy to commit genocide and all incidents but four, that the…
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UN Mapping Report: 34 Congolese Organizations call for an independent and credible Special Court
Driven by the publication of the UN Mapping Report of October 2010, Congolese, international officials and civil society representatives met in Goma from April 6-8th, 2011 “on the establishment of a specialized mixed court for the prosecution of the most serious International crimes committed on Congolese soil since 1990”. Such a mixed court (composed of both Congolese…
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California State on its way to enforce federal regulations on conflict minerals from DRC
On Tuesday April 12th, California Senate’s Governmental Organization Committee furthered the bill SB 861 which aims to enhance the State of California’s compliance with section 1502 on conflict minerals of U.S federal law, N0 111-203 also known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and the Consumer Protection Act signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010. However, this…
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American and European NGOs call for high level diplomatic appointments in Africa’s Great Lakes Region
Humanitarian and advocacy groups in the US and Europe are pressing their respective governments to appoint special envoys to Africa’s Great Lakes region. On the US side, this appointment is long overdue. The necessity for a special envoy was recognized by US lawmakers when they passed the “Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy…
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Global Day Against Military Spending
Africa Advocates can get behind this event, come and show your support! From their website: “We are organizing a Global Day of Action on Military Spending on April 12, 2011to coincide with the release of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) new annual figures on world military expenditures. On this day, people on all continents will…
