Displaying items by tag: Africa

An assembly of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) opened in Kenya's capital with a minute’s silence as delegates stood under the dark cloud cast by a plane crash that killed 157 people, including UN staff working for several different agencies. Through the week, as the identities of more victims were reported, heartache rippled through the conference halls. Students at Kenyatta University mourned the deaths of a lecturer and the director of teacher professional development. Hundreds of lives will not be the same as they mourn. Meanwhile Boeing faces further questions over the safety of its 737 Max 8 jets, now grounded after the second fatal crash in months. See

82-year-old President Bouteflika has not spoken in public in years. At public ceremonies or meetings his handlers place a framed picture of him on an easel. The government has announced that Bouteflika, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013, will seek a fifth term of office. Protests erupted, and continue. 70% of Algeria's population is under 30. Millions are fed up with a state-run economy that is flagging. Despite demonstrations, Mr. Bouteflika’s circle still plan to wheel him out for April’s elections. Meanwhile influential legislators from the opposition resigned from parliament to support the grassroots demands for change. The stakes are high. Europe counts the country as a major energy exporter, a counter-terrorism ally, and a partner in controlling migration flows from Africa. A young population with high expectations no longer accepts an authoritarian system. Repercussions could spread far beyond Algeria. See

Mostafa travelled to Cairo with the intention of killing his cousin Mohammad for converting from Islam to Christianity. He found him in a worship service and waited to make his move. The songs and prayers he heard in that service appealed to him. He approached Mohammad with tears in his eyes, ‘I came from our village to spy on you and see if you had become a Christian. I should tell your family what I saw, but I just can’t. I think the choice you made might have been the right one. Can you tell me more? Why did you leave Islam for Christianity?’ The cousins spent hours discussing the Gospel, and that night Mostafa dreamt of Jesus on the cross looking at him and saying, ‘I did this because I love you, and I want you to be free from your sins.’ Mostafa told Mohammad his dream. The following month he was baptised, with Mohammad standing next to him.

The Christ-centred National Land Summit (28 February to 1 March) is calling South Africans with faith like Joshua and Caleb to contribute towards a national Kingdom consensus for addressing land reform and rural systemic poverty. Kingdom-minded, faith-filled, positive people who are active in their communities, building bridges and creating solutions to local challenges, have been urged to attend. Jan Oosthuizen, the organiser of the event and facilitator of the New Nation Movement agricultural think-tank, said, ‘We appreciate the obedience and work God has established in His people all over South Africa, and believe that a cross-section of their contributions for overcoming the challenges that face agriculture and rural poverty will be invaluable.’

President Buhari said that the independent National Electoral Commission has questions to answer over the postponement of the general election to 23 February. He warned those planning to snatch ballot boxes that they will pay with their life. Open Doors said, ‘For Nigerian Christians, elections draw attention to a long-term crisis and can intensify attacks on them. Christians are fearful because they have been targeted so often.’ The most recent was when Pastor Jatau’s car was ambushed and he and his family were dragged away. His body was found two days later but his wife, three children, and two sisters-in-law are missing. Kidnappers are demanding a ransom for the family. They were travelling to take up a new ministry when they were attacked. See

A parliamentary committee tasked with amending Sudan’s constitution to allow President Omar al-Bashir to run for another term said it would indefinitely postpone a meeting to draft these changes. The president, a former army officer who came to power after a military coup, is facing unprecedented opposition to his rule, with street protests involving hundreds of people almost daily since mid-December over food prices, cash shortages and his 30-year rule. 75-year-old Bashir blamed protests on foreign ‘agents’ and challenged his opponents to seek power through the ballot box. Elections are expected in 2020. Sudan’s authoritarian government is ruled as an Islamic state with limited rights for religious minorities, freedom of speech restrictions, press restraints and multiple church building demolitions. Human Rights Watch reported over 51 deaths in nationwide rallies being subdued by riot police.

Egyptian religious scholars want an award-winning film, ‘The Guest’, banned. The story of a daughter’s handsome suitor being her father’s worst nightmare unfolds on the silver screen as a conflict between radical Islam and deductive logic. Many Egyptians may not see the psychological thriller if a Cairo court decides on 23 February that it should be banned for misrepresenting Islam. The film’s dialogues focus on religion’s role in society and address hijabs, inter-faith marriages, and women’s role. The plot, which features a Christian wife and mother, takes on the credibility of sheikhs and political Islam. Religious figures have complained that the film ‘promotes inaccurate Islamic information’.

The 41 million people of this Muslim-majority country depend on fossil fuels for their export income. Recently finances have been hurt by the drop in oil prices, prompting cuts in state subsidies. Algeria struggles to provide jobs and homes for its people. Democracy and human rights exist on paper, less so in reality. In the midst of this, people are coming to Christ. Most new believers are from non-Arab backgrounds, but faith is also growing among Arabs and other people groups. New fellowships begin as believers move into Arab areas to share the gospel. Persecution is a fact of life. One Christian woman wrote, ‘Women converts to Christ face challenges which sometimes cost them dearly - rejected by their families, repudiated by their husbands, deprived of their children.’

The second-largest Ebola outbreak in history has killed 97 children, and 811 people have symptoms. ‘We are at a crossroads’, said a spokesperson for Save the Children. ‘If we don't take urgent steps to contain this, the outbreak might last another six months, if not the whole year.’ The fatality rate is currently 63%. There is misinformation in communities, and mistrust of medical responses is an urgent and real concern. People have disrupted funerals because they didn't believe the deceased had the virus. Aid workers are threatened because it is believed that they spread Ebola. ‘We must scale up our efforts to reach the vocal youth and community leaders to build trust and to help us turn this tide. Treating sick people is essential, but stopping Ebola from spreading is just as important.’ Children are at the greatest risk of dying.

Since 2012, Israel and Germany have worked together on policies to aid the development of African countries. Germany is providing 90% of the financial support, which enables the Israelis to bring their expertise into the latest agricultural developments. Large projects, which Israel cannot carry out alone, will grow with German provision. As Israel was forced within its own land to find solutions for the lack of water in desert areas, Israelis are now blessing many countries in Africa with their knowledge, fulfilling God’s word ‘and you will be a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2).