Fredrick Nzwili

Pope Francis appealed to South Sudan leaders to "lower the tension in the country" as Catholic bishops in Sudan and South Sudan expressed alarm at the escalating violence in the world's youngest nation and warned of a catastrophe if full-scale war returns.

One theologian said Africa's celebrations of the Christian framework would exhibit the continent’s rich theological heritage and highlight new ways of thinking about faith unbound by colonial legacies.

A "silent genocide" — mimicking the Rwandan one of 1994 — is occurring in eastern Congo, said some Catholic Church sources, as shock greeted the killing of 70 people in a Protestant church in the North Kivu Province.

Amid what a Catholic charity called "unimaginable" suffering of civilians trapped in civil war brutality in Sudan, the United States declared that one of the fighting factions is committing genocide in the country and slapped sanctions on its leader.

On Sept.10, Catholic Bishop Leonard Ndjadi Ndjate, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the treaty was an ethical imperative that served the best interest of humanity.

"We are deeply devastated by the flood," Auxiliary Bishop John Bakeni of Maiduguri said in a statement sent to OSV News Sept. 18. "Our hearts go out to the families who have tragically lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods in this calamity."

The Catholic Church provides more than 50% of the health care needs for people in the Central African country — running and supporting over 2,000 health facilities, the highest number in Africa, followed by Kenya, where it supports more than 1,000, and Nigeria with more than 500 church-run health centers.

Bishop Stephen Nyodho Ador Majwok of Malakal, South Sudan, a diocese bordering Sudan, spoke with OSV News Aug. 14 amid a warning that the conflict that started in April 2023 had created the world's largest humanitarian crisis and triggered famine-like conditions across the country.

On July 16, the youth staged more demonstrations across the country, with police using tear gas to break up the marches. The Kenyan youth protests ignited in June in opposition to a controversial tax law dubbed a finance bill for 2024. But after protesting for nearly a month, the youth have since expanded their demands to more reforms in the political, governance and economic sectors, while rejecting government calls for dialogue.

Saulos Chilima, 51, died alongside nine others, including the former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, aboard a military aircraft.

A Kenyan bishop urged young Catholics to act together to care for the environment and protect it, as he led the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa in marking its 10th birthday.

Amid severe floods in Kenya, rescue operations were continuing April 29 as the death toll surpassed 120 people due to excessive rains and floods linked to the continuing El Nino phenomenon in East Africa. Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri appealed for humanitarian support to aid thousands of displaced people.

Caritas Dairy was inspired by Pope Francis' call for a more inclusive and sustainable food system, which supports farmers in producing and improving their capacities and resilience, said Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo of Nairobi.

Ahead of COP28, the U.N. climate change conference, Catholic leaders in Africa called for decisive action against climate change, as churches and agencies moved to aid people affected by floods.

On the day the world celebrates efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity, a bishop in Ethiopia was warning that his people were still dying of hunger, a year after a ceasefire ended a deadly conflict in the northern region of Tigray.

The message of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum echoed loudly across Africa, where millions of ordinary people are victims of the global climate crisis.  

As authorities in Libya announced a three-day mourning period following a deadly flood disaster, Bishop George Bugeja, apostolic vicar of Tripoli, expressed the church's closeness to the people, many of whom are injured, missing or trapped by the storm waters.

Ahead of major meetings of world leaders in September, such as the Africa Climate Summit, the G20 New Delhi Summit and the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly, Catholic bishops and faith leaders in Africa are calling for debt relief for the continent to give Africa a "life line" to escape the multiple crises plaguing its population.

Catholic bishops in Kenya appealed for an end to violence and for a pivot to dialogue, as scores are killed in anti-government protests.