Latest News
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Oil and Human Rights Abuse: The Case Against Chevron
Due to its vast oil wealth, the Niger Delta remains a place of violence, instability, and injustice. For years, civilians on Nigeria’s coast have battled large oil companies such as Chevron and Shell Oil whose escapades in the region have cost Nigerians their lives and their environment. The fact that natural resources cause conflict is…
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Film: Resist AFRICOM!
Strong visuals have the power to mobilize. They have the power to educate and to change minds. It is our hope that with this film, you will become an organizer and an educator to stop this additional U.S. military’s exertion of power. Whether by forwarding the video to friends or by screening it at your church…
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Resolve Uganda Interviews Congolese Religious Leader About Recent LRA Abductions
Paul Ronan, Senior Policy Analyst at Resolve Uganda, conducted an interview with Fr. Benoit Kinalegu on October 2nd, 2008 concerning the recent LRA abductions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Click here to see the interview on Resolve Uganda’s blog. This morning, I interviewed Fr. Benoit Kinalegu, the President of the Dungu Catholic Diocese Justice…
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The End of the Beginning! Zimbawe’s New Government
After years of staunch political rivalry between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and Arthur Mutambara (MDC-C), a long anticipated power-sharing deal has been signed . The historic deal was signed under the auspices of SADC (Southern African Development Community) with Thabo Mbeki as the resolute middleman. The agreement covered a…
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The Weight of ‘Change’? AFRICOM and the Presidential Election
In many ways, the outward tone of US foreign policy toward Africa transcends partisanship. While policies concerning the Middle East and Asia are often highly politicised, developing countries in Africa and many in Latin America tend to receive similar public treatment from both Republicans and Democrats. This general trend is reflected in many of the…
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“The Weight of ‘Change’? AFRICOM and the U.S. Presidential Elections”
“The Weight of ‘Change’? AFRICOM and the U.S. Presidential Elections” Pambazuka News, article by Associate Director Beth Tuckey
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St. Catherine’s Academy and AFJN in the NY Times
Over the past year, AFJN has done everything it can to raise awareness of the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From policy analysis to advocacy on Capitol Hill to speaking at events, we are working to ensure that the voices of the Congolese people are not lost. So when a teacher at a…
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“Bronx Students Aid War Victims in Congo”
“Bronx Students Aid War Victims in Congo” New York Times City Room article quotes Bahati Ntama and cites AFJN.
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Finally, a Deal in Zimbabwe
Months after the highly disputed presidential elections in Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe (Zanu-PF party) and Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC party) reached a power-sharing agreement on September 11th. Tsvangirai will become prime minister and the MDC party will likely have more senior ministers in the new government than Zanu-PF. However, Mugabe will continue to serve as…
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Angola Parliamentary Elections: Off to a Good Start
AFJN stands in solidarity with the people of Angola as they participate in the first parliamentary election in 16 years. The election is a huge stride toward sustainable peace, democracy, and development that Angolans desire. After three years of preparation, almost no stone has been left unturned. Eight million people were registered with anti-fraud systems of…
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In D.R.Congo, Laurent Nkunda Forces On The Offense Again
As of today, the Congolese Army and the Rebel Army of the National Congress for People’s Defense (CNDP) are fighting on several fronts, among them the towns of Minova, Kirotshe, Bweremana, Kibirizi, Kikuku, and more. Once again, the Congolese government and the Congolese people have been stabbed in the back by the pro-Rwanda rebel group…
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Why Restorative Justice?
By Rocco Puopolo Why Restorative Justice? In our Western culture, there is a tendency to automatically equate justice to punishment, but is it accurate to consider this notion universal? An even bigger question is, is this kind of definition for justice ultimately beneficial to communities affected by conflict? AFJN believes that although people who use…
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In D.R. Congo Violence Resumed, What Can you do?
In Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo violence has resumed. The Congolese army has been fighting with Laurent Nkunda’s pro-Rwanda rebel group in eastern Congo in the Rutshuru territory. It was around this time last year year that violence resumed, forcing the same people from Kanombe, Bunagana, Mutovu, Ntamugenga, Rumangabo and the surrounding areas to leave. Last month we got news from…
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A Different Olympic Story
When President Bush said he was attending the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games despite China’s misdeeds in the international arena, he said it is because the Olympics are about sports, not politics. Did anyone buy that? We like to think that the Olympics are a time for the world to come together…
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Africa’s Climate Imperative
In recent years, important strides have been made in awareness and action on the issue of climate change, as the undeniable risks are coming more and more into focus. Yet, while communities around the world are already bearing the burden of a warmer world, international support for adaptation and disaster preparedness as well as efforts…
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Making the Case for Aid Reform
When we’re told that U.S. attempts at development in the global south do not work, we respond, ‘it’s because true development has never been tried.’ For decades the U.S. has shipped money and supplies overseas only to see the levels of poverty and devastation remain largely the same. Between 1965 and 2006, USAID spent $516…
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Liberia Will Rise Again! Observations From a Recent Visit
What’s happening in Liberia? Is the war over ? Is it safe to travel there? These are the most common questions I’ve been asked regarding the situation in the West African country of Liberia. My three weeks on the ground in post-conflict Liberia in June gave me a glimpse of the present position of the country as…
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Advocacy Update: Rwanda-Congo Conflict
This article first appeared in the July/August issue of Around Africa Between March and early May, you may remember signing a petition to the U.S. State Department generated by Africa Faith and Justice Network regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Rwanda conflict. On May 23, we submitted the overwhelmingly well-supported petition (more than 1300 signatures) to…
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The Ritual of Military Coup in Mauritania
On August 6th, the first democratically elected president of Mauritania, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, was overthrown in a military coup lead by the head of his presidential guard, General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. This happened after 48 lawmakers from the ruling party resigned and President Sidi decided to fire General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz and another senior…
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Draft Agreement Puts Tsvangarai as Leader of Zimbabwe
According to a draft settlement released today , President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe would receive a ceremonial title as head of state and “founding president” while opposition leader Mr. Morgan Tsvangarai would take over the running of the country as Prime Minister. The settlement would also guarantee Mr. Mugabe blanket amnesty for the atrocities…
