Latest News
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Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Applaud Passage of Amendment to Allocate Trillions in Relief to Crisis-Hit Developing Countries
The Africa Faith and Justice Network was one of several organizations calling on Congress to pass an amendment allocating trillions of additional dollars in relief to crisis-hit developing countries. Read the Press Release below:
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AFJN featured in America Magazine on gender based violence work in Nigeria
On August 3, 2020, the work of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in Nigeria was featured in America Magazine. In the article “The Catholic Church’s fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria” Patrick Egwu talks about the increased need for the government’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the protests following the rape and murder of a 22-year old student. The article features the work of AFJN to educate the local population, especially the youth via online workshops and radio programs. Egwu noted that this was made possible by funds covering the costs of the workshops and to pay for data for the youth.
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AFJN in the News: AFJN on advocacy against gender-based violence in Nigeria
On August 3, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network and Africa Faith and Justice Network – Nigeria work was featured in Patrick Egwu’s article “The Catholic Church’s fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria” featured in America Magazine. Read the full article here: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/08/03/catholic-churchs-fight-against-gender-based-violence-nigeria
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“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” – African Proverb
Inspired by the African Proverb, on June 22nd and 23rd, Nigerian youth gathered online to unite in an effort to combat sexual violence. The two-day workshop, Voices for Change, sponsored by the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) Nigeria, had over 68 youth participants who ranged from high school freshmen to university graduate students. During the workshop participants learned how to identify sexual violence, participated in advocacy training, and took action.
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Financial Measures to Protect Africa from Financial Instability Due to COVID-19
We urge the U.S. to support the International Monetary Fund utilize the Special Drawing Rights to stabilize the African economy. It is in U.S. interest to stop COVID-19 abroad to prevent it from coming back to any of our communities once we reopen our borders. By protecting the health of others, we consequently protect our own health, security, and economy.
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The US is Not a Safe Haven for Foreign Human Rights Violators
The US has laws intended to ensure human rights abusers, like Correa, do not have a safe haven on its territory. Correa could face the death penalty or up to life in prison based on the guidelines of the 1994 Torture Statue. This statute requires for any person residing in the US, regardless of nationality, to be charged for torture abroad. Also, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 prevents criminals from seeking asylum. However, the most legally cut-forward way, majority of the time, for US officials to prosecute war criminals is through immigration violations. The ICE and the US Department of Justice Criminal Division actively work to prevent criminals from entering the US.
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AFJN’s Exe. Dir. Rev. Aniedi Okure article featured in Nigrizia
On July 11, 2020, Rev. Aniedi Okure wrote “Da che parte scriviamo la storia?” for Nigrizia. Read the full article here: https://www.nigrizia.it/notizia/da-che-parte-scriviamo-la-storia
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Communiqué de presse: Des Milliers de Manifestants Protestent Contre la Nomination de Malonda au Mépris des Ordres de Rester à Domicile en République Démocratique du Congo
Washington, DC – le Jeudi 9 Juillet 2020, des milliers de citoyens de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) sont descendus dans la rue pour protester contre la nomination de M. Ronsard Malonda à la tête de la Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI). Au mépris de l’ordre du gouvernement interdisant les manifestations en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19 et organisé par l’Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS), les manifestants sont sortis en grand nombre montrant leur désapprobation du système qui avait nommé M. Malonda qui est actuellement le Secrétaire National Exécutif de la CENI.
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Press Release: Thousands protest nomination in defiance of stay-at-home orders in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Washington, DC – On thursday, thousands of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) citizens took to the streets in protest to the nomination of Mr. Ronsard Malonda to head the National Independent Election Commission (NIEC). In defiance of the government order forbidding protests due to the COVID-19 pandemic and organized by the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the protesters came out in large numbers showing their disapproval of the system that had nominated Mr. Malonda who is currently the National Executive Secretary of the DRC NIEC.
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AdNA Calls for Robust COVID-19 Funding for Africa
Despite these challenges, African countries are responding proactively. Governments and individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa have generated many innovative measures to address COVID-19 related challenges. Such initiatives deserve support
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Twenty Years Prison for Democratic Republic of Congo President’s Chief of Staff for Embezzlement
On June 20, 2020 a Judge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced one of the country’s high level official, Mr. Kamerhe Lwa Kanyigini Vital, the President’s chief of staff to 20 years of hard labor for embezzlement and corruption. His co-accused, Mr. Samih Jammal, a businessman from Lebanon got the same sentence for…
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Ghanian flag designer Theodosiah Okoh recognized as Revolutionary
By Chazmine A. Moore Theodisiah Okoh is the artistic designer behind Ghana’s flag, which is no small achievement since the design influenced many other African countries’ flags such as Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, Mali, The Republic of Congo, and more. Okoh crafted the design for the Ghanian flag following Ghana’s liberation from colonial rule. Okoh’s…
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Coalition to Dept. of State: Democratic Republic of Congo’s Judiciary Reforms are Unconstitutional
On June 30, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network was one of the signers of the “Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Proposed Judiciary Reforms are devastating and Unconstitutional,” letter sent to the Honorable Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy, Jr., the Assistant Secretary Bureau of African Affairs at the United States Department of State. The letter…
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Summer’s Here and AFJN’s Interns are Already Hard at Work!
The Africa Faith and Justice Network is excited to have three very qualified interns this year for our summer internships. Click on the links below to read each of their bios. AFJN interns go through an intensive orientation process to learn about the continent of Africa, the major achievements, the important issues of the day,…
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Welcome to Our 2020 Summer Intern, Chazmine A. Moore
Chazmine is a rising junior at Villanova University, where she majors in Political Science and Communications and minors in Spanish. At Villanova, Chazmine participates in the campus community through organizations such as the Blue Key Society, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Committee, the Community Outreach of Villanova, and Residence Life. Additionally, Chazmine…
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Welcome to Our 2020 Summer Intern, Mia Kilpatrick
Mia Kilpatrick just completed her sophomore year at Wofford College. She is majoring in International Affairs and Spanish. During the 2019-2020 academic year she was able to serve as a Sophomore Delegate on Wofford’s Campus Union Assembly and was recently re-elected as an At-Large Delegate and will serve on the assembly again, during the 2020-2021…
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Welcome to Our Returning Summer Intern, Philip Brooks
Philip Brooks is a senior at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He majors in international relations and political science. This is his second summer working for Africa Faith and Justice Network. Last summer he focused on issues in West Africa. Philip is interested in topics of international security including the military industrial complex, the…
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Le Projet de Loi sur la Réforme Judiciaire en RDC est Inconstitutionnel
Washington, DC – (English Version) Un projet de loi sur la réforme judiciaire en cours d’examen au Parlement de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) tente de saper l’autonomie du pouvoir judiciaire. S’il est adopté, le pouvoir judiciaire devra répondre au le ministre de la Justice, un poste politique du pouvoir exécutif. La Constitution de la RDC stipule que chaque branche du gouvernement est autonome. Par conséquent, s’il était adopté, le projet de loi modifierait la structure essentielle de la République. Les révisions constitutionnelles sont également illégales pendant un état d’urgence, comme la pandémie actuelle de COVID-19. De nombreux Congolais affirment que si ce projet de loi est adopté, il mettrait un terme aux progrès réalisés par le pouvoir judiciaire et soutenu par le président de la RDC, Felix Tshisekedi, pour lutter contre la corruption.
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Press Statement: The Judiciary Reform Bill in DRC is Unconstitutional
Washington, DC – (En Francais) A judiciary reform bill being considered in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Parliament is attempting to undermine the Judiciary’s autonomy. If passed, the Judiciary will be answerable to the Minister of Justice, a politically appointed position of the Executive Branch. The DRC’s Constitution states that each branch of the government is autonomous, so if passed the bill would be changing the essential structure of the Republic. Also constitutional revisions are illegal during a state of urgency, like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many Congolese assert that if this bill passes, it would halt the progress made by the Judiciary and supported by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi with tackling corruption.
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AFJN Quoted in The Catholic World Report on Police Brutality in Nigeria
On June 25, 2020, Rev. Aniedi Okure, OP and Sr. Eucharia Madueke were quoted in Patrick Egwu’s article “Nigerian priests condemn police brutality during lockdown, offer solutions” in The Catholic World Report. They talked about the nature of policy brutality in Nigeria and how its changed in light of COVID-19. To read the full article…
