Africa

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  5 December 2025
  AFRICA/TANZANIA - Appeal for the release of political prisoners Dar es Salaam (Agenzia Fides) – Political prisoners must be released and the bodies of missing persons returned. This is the joint appeal launched to the Tanzanian government by the embassies of Great Britain, Canada, ...
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  4 December 2025
  AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Bishop of Tombura Yambio to the youth from the ten counties of Western Equaoria State: “A nation cannot build new paths on old wounds” Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “It is essential that the youth commit themselves to what can bring peace to them now and to the future of their communities,” Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura Yambio told ...
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  4 December 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Priest kidnapped in Kaduna State Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Another Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Nigeria. Father Emmanuel Ezema was abducted by armed men from the rectory of St. Peter's Parish in Rumi on December 2, around 11:30 a.m. This was an ...
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  3 December 2025
  AFRICA/CAMEROON - The priest abducted by separatists on November 15 is free Yaoundé (Agenzia Fides) – Father John Berinyuy Tatah, parish priest in Babessi, who was abducted on November 15 along with his vicar in southwestern Cameroon, has been freed. His release on December 2 came a few days ...
• 2 December 2025
  AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE AND GAMBIA - Appointment of the new National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On October 13, 2025, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), appointed Father Francis ...
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  2 December 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Prayer chain for those abducted from Catholic schools in Papiri: the Superior General of the SMA Fathers in a sign of missionary unity with the OLA Sisters Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “We stand with them, we grieve with them, we pray with them,” is the call to prayer from the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostle for the 265 hostages of St. Mary’s Catholic School in ...
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  1 December 2025
  AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - Bishops on the upcoming elections: “A historic event that must not be wasted” Bangui (Agenzia Fides) – “This is an unprecedented historical event: it is about rebuilding our country and putting it on the path of social development and economic growth,” the bishops of the Central African Repu ...
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  1 December 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Archbishop of Sokoto: “No one asks the Catholic Church if the figures on persecution are accurate” Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – There is no genocide against Christians in Nigeria. This was affirmed by Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto in northern Nigeria in his address to the 46th Supreme Assembly of the Knights ...
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  1 December 2025
  AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Bishop Tombura Yambio on Advent: “Hope for a land that cries, hope for a Church that arises” Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “Advent is not just about candles and prayers, but also a spiritual rebuilding of our diocese and our nation. Let us prepare our hearts, our communities, our parishes. Let us prepare ...
• 1 December 2025
  AFRICA/REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - Appointment of coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Nkayi Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend François Halyday Mbouangui, of the clergy of Nkayi, until now director of the diocesan Social Communication Centre and parish vicar of Saint-Mich ...
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  28 November 2025
  AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Coup: President Embalo in exile in Senegal Bissau (Agenzia Fides) – The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was overthrown in a military coup on November 26 (see Fides, 27/11/2025), has sought refuge in Senegal. The self-proclaimed military ju ...
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  27 November 2025
  AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Military coup on the eve of the announcement of the presidential election results Bissau (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Bissau is calm. All radio stations have been forced to stop broadcasting and suspend updates on their social media and websites, while the military guards the streets,” re ...
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  27 November 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - President Tinubu declares state of emergency due to insecurity and orders recruitment of additional police officers and soldiers Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces,” said Nigerian President ...
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  26 November 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Still no news of the kidnappings at St. Mary's School; the Bishops say "the situation is truly worrisome but it is not genocide" Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Unfortunately, there is no new information about the fate of the hostages,” Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora told Fides. In his diocese, 315 students and staff members of St. Mary’ ...
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  25 November 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - New mass kidnappings in Kwara State Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Mass kidnappings in Nigeria continue unabated. Late in the afternoon of November 24, a group of at least 20 armed men attacked the village of Isapa in the Ekiti district of Kwara State, kidnappi ...