Africa

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  18 February 2026
  AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - In a context of violence, famine, and malnutrition, Bishop Hiiboro Kussala sends a message of peace and healing ahead of Lent Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – Fifteen years after independence, there is no respite for the more than 12 million inhabitants of the world's youngest country. Decades of conflict and isolation, initially due to the w ...
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  17 February 2026
  AFRICA/KENYA - The Episcopal Conference, concerned about the rise in violence, calls for an investigation into the attack on an Anglican church Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “Churches are sacred places and must always be respected. Lobbing tear gas canisters at worshippers inside the church is a gross violation of the constitutional right to worship provided und ...
• 17 February 2026
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Appointment of bishop of Kroonstad, South Africa Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Amos Mabuti Masemola, until how vicar general of the metropolitan archdiocese of Pretoria and parish priest of Saint Thomas More of Centurion, as ...
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  17 February 2026
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - The country's bishops call on the faithful to express solidarity with the victims of the tropical cyclone Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – The assessment of the damage caused by tropical cyclone Gezani continues, having so far devastated 25 districts in five regions of the Indian Ocean island. According to the provisional as ...
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  16 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Nine children kidnapped from a Catholic church last week have been released Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – The nine children kidnapped last week from the St. John of the Cross mission station in Ojijea Ojije, Utonkon, Benue State, have been released (see Fides, 10/2/2026). The rescued children – si ...
• 16 February 2026
  AFRICA/CAPO VERDE - Resignation and appointment of bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, Cabo Verde, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Arlindo Gomes Furtado. The Holy ...
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  13 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Protest Rally: Priests from the Dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo denounce violence in Taraba State Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “So far, more than 80 people have been killed, many more injured, over 200 communities and churches destroyed, and more than 90,000 Christians have been forced to leave their homes,” denounc ...
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  13 February 2026
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Priest arrested under unconstitutional circumstances released on bail Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – The Masaka High Court has granted bail to Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, who has been in custody since December 2025. Father Ssekabira was reported missing on December 3. Nearly two weeks after h ...
• 13 February 2026
  AFRICA/CAMEROON - Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Bamenda Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend John Berinyuy Tata, until now rector of the Catholic University of Cameroon in Bamenda, as auxiliary bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Bam ...
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  12 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - 30 people, including a catechist and his pregnant wife, kidnapped in Kaduna State Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – A catechist, his pregnant wife, and 30 other people were kidnapped in Kadarko, in the Kadarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State, in north-central Nigeria. The catechist serves at the local par ...
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  10 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Nine Catholics kidnapped over the weekend in Nigeria Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Another kidnapping of Christians has occurred in Benue State, north-central Nigeria. On February 6, nine Catholics were forcibly taken away by unidentified assailants. The Diocese of Otukpo issu ...
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  9 February 2026
  AFRICA/MALAWI - The dioceses of Malawi celebrate the Pontifical Missionary Union and Consecrated Life with a call for unity in Christ Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – More than 600 diocesan and religious priests, nearly 1,500 nuns, and over 200 brothers serving in various parts of Malawi participated in celebrations held on February 7 in dioceses throughou ...
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  9 February 2026
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Call from religious leaders and civil society: the people of Tigray call for peace Mekelle (Agenzia Fides) — As the shadow of conflict continues to loom over the Tigray region (see Fides, 2/2/2026), religious and civil society leaders have renewed their plea for an immediate cessation of internal hos ...
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  9 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Appeal from the Bishop of Kontagora: "Mr. President, a military base must be established immediately in the area where the children from the school in Papiri were kidnapped" Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Mr. President, this is a desperate appeal to you to put an end to the relentless attacks against the population living in the local administrative areas of Agwara and Borgu, both located in t ...
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  8 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Terror, killings, and kidnappings persist. The Pope appeals to “competent authorities” Kafanchan (Agenzia Fides) – “It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria leading to a heavy loss of life.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV drew attention ...