Latest News
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U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa June 2012
Author: President Barack Obama and The White House Category: Sub-Saharan Africa Date Written: 14 June 2012 Document Origin: The White House Summary & Comment: President Barack Obama has announced that the U.S. is taking a four-pillared approach in its’ new strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa. The first of these is to “Strengthen Democratic Institutions”, which means…
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The Bureau of African Affairs Mission
Author: Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson and the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs Category: Sub-Saharan Africa Document Origin: The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Summary & Comment: The State Department lists five pillars as the foundation for U.S. policy toward Africa. The first is “Support for democracy and the strengthening of democratic institutions…
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Congo’s Faith Communities: A Q+A with Africa Faith and Justice Network’s Jacques Bahati
By Jayme Cloninger This interview was first published by Enough Project . Listen to the full interview here Congo is often depicted as a dark place so tainted by war and corruption that the humanity of those affected by conflict can barely peek through. In particular, these types of descriptions fail to convey the courage of the…
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Opening Statement of Senator Chris Coons
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2012 CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-4216 or Ian_Koski@coons.senate.gov “Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa’s Market Potential” Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs June 28, 2012 Slides that accompanied this statement can be found here: http://coons.senate.gov/download/june-28-sfrc-hearing-slides – As Prepared – I am pleased to convene today’s hearing of the African Affairs Subcommittee…
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D. R Congo Information Minister, Lambert Mende Omalanga accuses Rwanda of arming rebel group M23
Translated from French by Fidel BafilembaInformation from various and credible sources confirms the support from Rwanda to Bosco Ntaganda’s band and the existence of a pathway for recruiting fighters for Ntaganda in that neighboring country which, like the DR Congo, is member of the African Union, the Great Lakes Economic Community [or CEPGL] and the…
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U.S. Supporting Rwanda as it Destabilizes the Congo — Again
US Public Law 109-456 known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006, Section 105 says: “The Secretary of State is authorized to withhold assistance made available under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), other than humanitarian, peacekeeping, and counter terrorism assistance, for a…
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NGOs send letter to members of Congress who support urgent release of Conflict mineral law rules
The Honorable Representatives: Carolyn McCarthy, Ranking Member, Gwen Moore, André Carson, David Scott, Maxine Waters, Jim McDermott, United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Re: Thank you for your Support of Dodd-Frank 1502 Dear Representatives, We, the undersigned organizations, and on behalf of our constituents from your respective districts who have been advocating for…
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Message of the Bishops of the Provincial Episcopal Assembly of Bukavu (ASSEPB) to the political authorities of our country Introduction
A multitude of armed groups in eastern DR Congo Ancient, violent warlords are constantly changing their name, but the motives and the players remain the same. Essentially, they did everything to escape the restructuring of the national army after the last wars of 1996 and 1998. Attempts at reform were made on the basis of…
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Do not designate Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization
Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Clinton: We are writing to urge you to not designate Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). We realize that Boko Haram is responsible for terrible violence against innocent civilians and the loss of hundreds…
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AFJN Protests William Penn University Hosting Paul Kagame
AFJN, in coalition with 8 other organizations, is protesting William Penn University’s decision to honor Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, by having him deliver their commencement address and continuing to partner with him and the Rwandan government. The President of the United States has long recognized that Rwanda is not a democracy, and many organizations have pushed…
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Congresswoman Waters Urges SEC to Require Transparency for Conflict Minerals and Payments to Foreign Countries for Oil, Gas and Mineral Extraction
PRESS RELEASEMay 11, 2012 Contact: Mikael MooreFor Immediate Release Phone: (202) 225-2201Washington – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), a long-time advocate for international human rights and assistance for impoverished nations, participated yesterday in a hearing on “The Costs and Consequences of Dodd-Frank Section 1502: Impacts on America and the Congo.” The hearing was held by the International…
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DR Congo conflict minerals: AFJN submits a statement for the record to US House Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade
On February 13, my colleague and I returned from a three week research trip in DRC on the effect of Dodd-Frank 1502, specifically on artisanal miners. We visited the Mukera gold mine located in Fizi Territory/South Kivu province and held a town hall meeting with artisanal miners and leaders of the community. We also met…
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Africa Night at the Xaverian Missionaries in Massachusetts
On Saturday, April 28, 2012 AFJN Executive Director Dominican Father Aniedi Okure and Policy Analyst Bahati Jacques conducted an information session at the Xaverian Missionaries community in Holliston Massachusetts. The session was organized by AFJN Board member and Xaverian Father Rocco Puopolo and attracted over sixty participants from the Boston Metro area. The session focused…
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D.R.Congo: International and National NGOs say security sector reform is overdue
On April 16, at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, unveiled a new report by several organizations on the urgent need for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Panelists underscored, among other things, the lack of political will, funding by donors with no visible results, lack of soldiers…
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Civil Society Leaders Urge President Obama to Conclude Landmine Policy Review, Announce Intent to Join Mine Ban Treaty
Press Release Washington, D.C.—Leaders from 76 nongovernmental organizations delivered a letter to President Obama urging the U.S. to relinquish antipersonnel landmines and join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty without further delay. The letter follows a request made in 2010 by many of these same leaders asking the President to ensure that the landmine policy review…
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Award Honoring Kenyan Agricultural Scientist
This article is originally from Around Africa, Jan-March 2012 edition An award for outstanding achievements by African scientists has been created in memory of Thomas Odhiambo, the Kenyan scientist who helped found the African Academy of Sciences and TWAS (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World). Odhiambo, who died in 2003, is regarded as…
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Global Peace Initiative for Women Inspires Hope and Courage
This artlicle was first pulished in AFJN’s January-March Newsletter To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Global Peace Initiative for Women (GPIW) held an international conference in Kenya on the theme of Healing Communities Through Love and Compassion. Much was said about the existence of deep-seated anger, frustration, and suffering in our communities. Some of these…
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U.S. Congo Conflict Mineral: Delay No More. The Rules Must Respect the Intent of Congress
After a field trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from late January to mid February, Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is calling on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to release the rulesthat will govern section 1502 on conflict minerals originating from the DRC. Watch: US Congo Conflict Mineral Law:…
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DRC Ministry Of Mines Extends Co-Operation With ITSCI Due Diligence Program
Presse Release by iTSCI The new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was agreed following an evaluation of progress by Ministry experts who have reported improved transparency and statistics of production, and resulting tax revenues, as well as increased Government control and governance in the stanniferrous mineral sector in Katanga; the only Province where iTSCi is currently…
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AFJN Letter of support for Massachusetts conflict mineral law
(letter in PDF file )Dear Chairman Kocot, Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), a non-profit network with 34 US based active member organizations, applauds you and your consideration of H3982, An Act Relative to Congo Conflict Minerals. This landmark piece of legislation will prohibit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from contracting with companies who fail to comply with Federal…
