Latest News
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UN Report on Rwanda’s Support of M23 Released Two Days After Goma Fell
The following is an excerpt from the report’s executive summary: “The Government of Rwanda continues to violate the arms embargo by providing direct military support to the M23 rebels, facilitating recruitment, encouraging and facilitating desertions from the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and providing arms, ammunition, intelligence and political advice. The…
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UN Security Council adopts a resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of ‘M23’
“The Security Council this evening demanded the immediate withdrawal of the armed group known as the 23 March Movement (M23) from the major eastern Congolese city of Goma and the cessation of any further advances, calling for a clarification of reports of external support provided to the group and stating its readiness to act on…
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AFJN at SECAM Meeting in Dar-Es-Salaam
By Aniedi Okure, OP, Executive Director This article was first published in our Oct-Dec 2012 “Around Africa” newsletter On November 21, 2012 AFJN, had an opportune to make a presentation on Catholic Social Teaching and Empowerment of Local Communities for Good Governance to about seventy church leaders and consultants gathered in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania from November 20-25,…
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D.R. Congo: Women’s Advocate Dr. Mukege Narrowly Escapes Assassination
A news reports from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, confirms the assassination attempt on Dr. Denis Mukwege, a world-renown surgeon known for his remarkable dedication to caring for victims of rape at Panzi Hospital in South Kivu. Four gunmen entered the residence of Dr. Mukwege on…
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Help Prevent the US from Being a Safe Haven for War Criminals
The United States government is seeking help from the general public and specifically from the African diaspora in an effort to ensure human rights violators and war criminals do not find a safe haven here. If you have information about any foreign government official, military, police, or members of an armed group that you believe…
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Massive, irresponsible lease of African farm land threatens Africa
Since 2008, foreign investors, some of whom are private banks and pension funds, have acquired farm land in Africa resulting in the displacement and loss of livelihood of many families. Africans cannot financially afford to entrust their food security to foreign large-scale commercial agriculture multinationals.
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Religious Freedom: Reflections on Nigeria
By Aniedi Okure, Executive Director This article was first published in our July-September Newsletter. On September 12, 2012 Aniedi Okure made a presentation at International Religious Freedom Conference: An Imperative for Peace and the Common Good. The following is a summary of the conversation. The bombing of numerous churches and killings of Christians in Nigeria…
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Sudanese church leaders’ statement following the agreements between Sudan and South Sudan
The old Sudan was a family which has found itself divided. The family assets must be shared in an equitable way, so that neither side finds itself badly disadvantaged. This is the spirit which should guide negotiations about oil and borders. We welcome the agreement to allow the oil to flow once more, to the…
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The attitude of the bullies [the West] must be challenged
On October 4, 2012, in a speech to parliament, Rwandan President Paul Kagame made clear his position on D.R.Congo-Rwanda crisis. Though the occasion was the launch of 2012-2013 as the Judicial year, he spent much of the time explaining how he will not accept to be bullied by the West which uses foreign aid to just do…
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The Activities of International Criminal Tribunals in Africa: Lessons Learned
Some people argue that the importance of the ICC is to build lasting peace and democracy through accountability and to pass a legacy of holding those who commit atrocious crimes responsible to the next generations. Others argue that if the ICC had been there, it would have been impossible to end Apartheid in South Africa….
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One Man’s Pirate is Another Man’s Coastguard: Piracy and Toxic Dumping
by Bahati Jacques While there has been an international coalition against Somali pirates, nothing has been done to stop the industrialized world from dumping toxic waste in the water off the coast of Somalia. Along with industrial overfishing, toxic dumping on the shores of Somalia is a major and important part of the piracy story…
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Examining the Role of Rwanda in the DRC Insurgency: It’s Not the Only Problem
On Wednesday, September 19, 2012 the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights of the US House of Representatives held a hearing on the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The distinguished panel elaborated on the Rwanda’s role in the crisis, but almost nothing was said about weak leadership in…
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Conflict Free Tin Initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Press statement BRUSSELS – Sept. 18, 2012 – Industry partners convened by the Dutch government today announced their intention to start a conflict-free tin sourcing program in South Kivu, an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This happened during the GeSI and EICC Conflict-Free Minerals Workshop attended by over 175 stakeholders representing…
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US deploys forces to Libya after the killing of Ambassador John Christopher Stevens
On September 12, 2012, in response to an attack on our diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four U.S. citizens, including U.S. Ambassador John Christopher Stevens, a security force from the U.S. Africa Command deployed to Libya to support the security of U.S. personnel in Libya. Read the full White House press release here
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The Relationship Between Forgiveness and Reconciliation
During the tenth Anniversary Celebration of Global Peace Imitative for women (GPIW) in Kenya in March 2012, much was said regarding the need for forgiveness and reconciliations between people in nation with a history of violence. Below is an exurb on this topic from GPIW’s report entitled “Awakening the Healing Heart.” (Source: www.gpiw.org) Dr. Celestin…
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The way forward after the death of Ethiopia’s Strongman
After months of speculation about his fate, Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi died the night of August 20, 2012. World leaders have highlighted the magnificent of the economic development that Ethiopia achieved under his leadership. However, human rights groups remember Prime Minster Zenawi’s government as “repressive regime”. US President, Barak Obama, former British Prime Minister,…
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Congolese People Vs Industry Lobbyists: U.S Securities and Exchange Commission finally released the rules
by Bahati Jacques On August 22, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted the long overdue rules on section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 2010 regarding the use of conflict minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. The rules require that…
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US-Africa Parish Twinning
For five years St. Anne Catholic Church in Barrington, IL (Diocese of Chicago) and Rugari Parish in DR. Congo (Diocese of Goma.) partnered and together they have made a difference. in 2012 Paul and Adrienne Kalmess, members of the justice and peace office at St. Anne Parish visited the community they have helped during the…
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The First Ever US Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally
On August 10, AFJN Executive Director, Rev. Aniedi Okure, was invited to the White House for the official launch of the first ever “United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally”. The strategy calls for a concerted effort from several government agencies to prevent and respond to gender-based violence from a multifaceted…
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Western Countries Raise Pressure on President Kagame of Rwanda
On August 3rd, members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame saying that: “[t]he conflict in eastern Congo and Rwanda’s role in it deeply troubles many Members of Congress.” This comes after UN experts reported that there is a network of high ranking Rwandan army officials supporting the rebel group…
