The Voice of the suffering in Africa

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda is preparing a catechism consisting of one hundred questions and answers inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace. With the support of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he hopes to print and distribute it widely among the younger generations of a region scarred by a decade of conflict. Cameroon is a very young country: around 60 percent of its population is under the age of 25. But in the country’s English-speaking ...

The Catholic Church in Mauritania is in a unique position: there are no Mauritanian Christians, and the entire Catholic community is made up of foreigners and expats. In this context, the Church’s presence is very limited, with only two priests and one bishop, but its mission remains clear: to bear witness to the love of God for everybody, Christians and Muslims alike. Fr. Edmond Théodore is originally from Senegal, but he lives and works in Mauritania and recently visited the ...

ACN continues to accompany the Church in Nigeria in its efforts to counteract the effects of endemic violence and its appeals for peace. The Catholic bishops of Nigeria have issued a passionate appeal for peace, following recent massacres in the regions of Borgu and Ukum. Dozens of people were killed in the attacks, which are unrelated. In the case of Borgu, suspicion falls on jihadist militants, whereas in the case of Ukum, the attackers are believed to be armed gangs ...

Northern Nigeria usually appears in the news because of violence, kidnappings, or interreligious conflicts. However, in the midst of that reality, there are also many experiences of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. Bishop Gerald Musa of the Diocese of Katsina believes that the greatest challenge is not religious difference, but the insecurity and lack of justice that affect all of society. The bishop explained his positions in a conversation with pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) ...

Building where the nuns were staying also serves as a home for young girls. Archbishop laments “exponential” rise in crime in the African country. Killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso remains unsolved. The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Mozambique has denounced an “exponential rise” in criminality in the country, following an attack on the house of a group of religious sisters in the Archdiocese of Nampula. The attack occurred on August 8 in Mecuburi. Shortly after midnight, the criminals ...

Catholic leaders advocate for the right of return of internally displaced people. The return of thousands of displaced Christians to their places of origin in Iraq, supported by ACN following the defeat of Islamic State, could serve as a model for responding to the crisis facing Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. On August 6, 2014, the Islamic State swept through the Nineveh Plains, the ancestral homeland of Iraqi Christians, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee overnight to the safety ...