The Voice of the suffering in Africa

Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is in imminent danger of being taken over by the M23 rebels who seized the airport and parts of the city.   As fighting reportedly continues in Goma, the Church fears for the well-being of the innocent civilian population.  Willy Ngumbi Ngengele, the Bishop of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has issued a warning about the city’s drastic situation, as ...

A series of attacks on Christian communities in December, including on Christmas Day, left dozens dead, according to recent reports from ACN’s local Church sources. Dozens of Christians were killed in attacks in and around Christmas time in Nigeria, especially in Benue State. News of these attacks only recently came to the attention of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), after the foundation received reports from local Church partners, highlighting the lack of coverage of ...

2025 could be a difficult year for Catholic schools in Mali. According to ACN’s Malian project partners, state subsidies will cease from the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, which plunges theses schools into an uncertain future. Mali is increasingly suffering from the influence of fundamentalism, and most actors and partners in its Catholic education system emphasize the important role that Catholic schools play in development and interreligious dialogue, and hence the preservation of peace in Mali. “We really need ...

Of all the current war zones in the world, Sudan is among the least likely to heed Pope Francis’s repeated calls for peace in the world, as both sides show no signs of wanting to end hostilities, and the Christian presence in the country is minuscule. In this article, ACN shares the story of a bishop who bravely continues to lead his flock in the city of El-Obeid and finds hope in the Blessed Sacrament. The bishop spoke of this ...

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is calling for a 24-hour Global Day of Prayer for Peace in Myanmar, which will be celebrated on February 1st. On this date, which marks an important anniversary in the country’s recent history, the foundation’s headquarters and 23 national offices will join forces, inviting people from all over the world to join in a spirit of solidarity and hope.  The day will be divided into prayer shifts, allowing global participation ...

The Diocese of Nouna thanks ACN for supporting catechists.  Thanks to help from ACN, the Burkinabé Diocese of Nouna has been able to provide six months of basic foodstuffs to 30 internally displaced catechists in the parishes of Nouna, Solenzo, and Saneba, so they can feed their families and help other people in need.  “In the name of his excellence, Bishop Joseph Sama, and the various priests of the parishes which have benefited, we convey our deep gratitude for your ...