Latest News
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We urgently need your voice to help end 17 years of rape, kidnapping, and killings in D.R. Congo
Every day in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo there are news reports of kidnapping for ransom, targeted assassinations, rape and looting by armed groups. On May 15, H.Res 131, a resolution “Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the need for international efforts toward long-term peace, stability, and…
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Oxford University: Rwanda President Kagame is controversial, but welcome
Oxford University distanced itself from Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s presence on campus. He was invited by Oxford Business Network for Africa to attend their conference at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School on May 18, 2013. Characterizing President Kagame as a “controversial figure”, the university said that “this invitation and President Kagame’s presence in the Saïd Business School does not imply any endorsement by the School or the University of his views or actions.”
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D.R. Congo: Rwandan troops fighting alongside rebels to capture the city of Goma
Despite the international pressure, President Kagame remains defiant. For a month now, North Kivu civil society and others have reported increased crossings of Rwandan soldiers into DRC to help M23 and have called on the international community to take appropriate measures. They have identified among many Colonel Bingira, a Rwanda military officer who is currently…
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Answers to those challenging US conflict mineral law, section 1502 of Dodd-Frank
Today, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade held a hearing on the “The Unintended Consequences of Dodd-Frank’s Conflict Minerals Provision.” Africa Faith and Justice Network submitted a statement in support of this provision. Contrary to those who argue that Section 1502 of Dodd-Frank failed to achieve its intended objectives, we…
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Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Liberia
One of Africa’s outstanding advocates for justice, human rights and good governance, Emeritus Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Monrovia died Sunday May 19, 2013 in Monrovia, Liberia. A courageous preacher who spoke truth to power and advocated for the rule of law, Archbishop Francis served as the moral conscience for society, especially for Liberia’s political…
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The Epidemic of Land Grabbing is Worse than Colonization: US Companies are Part of the Rip off
By Jacques Bahati Advocates, mostly African diaspora, gathered on March 15 in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill to call attention to the tragic effects of land grabbing in Africa by foreign investors. The discussion was moderated by Gregory Simpkins, senior advisor to Congressman Chris Smith, the Chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee…
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Capitol Hill: the National Bar Association brainstorming on how to help Africa
On March 17, the National Bar Association (NBA), the oldest and largest association of African-American attorneys, judges and law students in the United States and the Constituency for Africa (CFA), an education and advocacy organization focused on helping build and strengthen the capacity of the diaspora’s involvement in Africa since 1990, held a brainstorming event…
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US soon to appoint Special Envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region.
On April 17, US Secretary of State John Kerry, during a hearing on the budget, told congress that President Obama has chosen and is vetting a person to appoint as US Special Envoy to Africa’s the Great Lakes Region to coordinate US efforts in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). …
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US Senate: Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo
On April 16, the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) entitled “Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo” Here are some highlights from the witnesses. Mr. Federico Borello, Director, Investments Humanity United ,Washington, DC told Congress that “Offensive military…
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A Tribute to the Life of AFJN’s First Director, Sjef Donders in independent catholic news
Fr Joseph Donders, widely known as ‘Sjef’, died on 7 March 2013 in hospital in Maastricht (Holland) aged 83.
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President Thomas Sankara’s Leadership on Arms trade to Africa
Updated on April 9, 2013 This article was first published in AFJN’s January-March 2013 Newsletter On March 18-28, 2013 the UN held in New York the final conference on arms trade treaty. At the end, the UN general assembly voted overwhelmingly to regulate this deadly business by 154 to three votes with 23 abstentions. This…
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ICC Justice is for Bosco Ntaganda not for the Victims
This article was first published in AFJN’s January-March Newsletter By Jacques Bahati, Policy Analyst On March 18, General Bosco Ntaganda, one of the notorious rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) surrendered himself to the US Embassy in Kigali and specifically requested his transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the…
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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.
