Latest News
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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…
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Congress Challenges AFRICOM
Congress is finally taking up its constitutionally mandated duties of oversight and responsible budgeting – at least on U.S.-Africa policy. From humanitarian relief for northern Uganda to the Jubilee Act on debt relief, Congress is making some very important steps forward on the side of the African people. Although there have been a few major…
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AFRICOM: Key Facts and Concerns
Published originally on the resist AFRICOM coalition website, August 2008. AFRICOM expands of the role of the U.S. military on the African Continent, potentially shifting humanitarian resources from civilians to military personnel. We reject this militarization of foreign engagement. We also repudiate the role of the U.S. military and private military contractors in training and equipping African soldiers….
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Embezzlement of Funds: the DRC Government Caught Some
On July 22, 2008, the Interdepartmental Commission of the Commission of audit and Good Governance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo made public the names of those involved in embezzlement of 1.3 billion US dollars. Among those named are three financial institutions (DGI, DGRAD, OFIDA) and six public enterprises (ONATRA, OCC, REGIDESO, SNEL, SONAS and RVA). The government…
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AFJN Briefs House Staff on AFRICOM
In June, AFJN staff member Beth Tuckey presented information on private security contractors in Africa to staffers on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Her presentation was part of a larger briefing by the Resist AFRICOM coalition, to familiarize staffers with our position on the new military command for Africa. With AFRICOM’s focus now on training…
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G8: A Religious Call for Strong Action, A Spotlight on Africa
This year, Hokkaido Toyako, Japan, is hosting heads of state of some of the world’s most developed nations, the Group of 8, in their 34th annual summit to discuss, debate, and potentially reach consensus on addressing the challenges that face our world today. The G8 summit is one of the only global summits in which…
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Concern for Zimbabweans Continues as Political Situation Remains Unresolved
AFJN’s concerns for the Zimbabwean people continue in the wake of the June 27th run-off elections: Despite the withdraw of oppositional candidate Morgan Tsvangirai in response to violence against his supporters and widespread awareness of the election’s illegitimacy, Robert Mugabe was declared the landside winner with more than 85% of the vote and was sworn…
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The D.R. of Congo: 48th year of Independence
On June 30, 1960 , the Democratic Republic of the Congo was formally proclaimed independent from Belgium . What kind of independence has it had? Like many African nations, the period since independence has been very similar to the time before independence. After the assassination of the elected Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba , president Mobutu Sese Seko ruled the Congo like his personal property making…
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UN Security Council Resolution Denounces Use of Rape as War Tactic
AFJN applauds Condoleezza Rice and the leaders of the United Nations Security Council for their new resolution forcefully condemning sexual violence against women. The Resolution, approved unanimously by the UN Security Council on Thursday, June 20, affirms the role of rape and other acts of sexual violence “as a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate,…
