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The leadership of the global confederation of Catholic relief agencies, Caritas Internationalis (CI), is offering help and comfort to migrants leaving Africa for Europe through Mali, housing them and providing them with “support and advice on their journey.”
Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli, the Catholic missionary Priest who was freed last month in Mali after he was kidnapped in Niger in September 2018 was evidently overcome with emotion when he had an audience with Pope Francis earlier this week following his release.
Jihadism that has bedeviled Mali is fueled by injustice, poverty and misery, a missionary Cleric ministering in the West African nation has said, noting that the way to fight the violence is to address the three challenges.
The leadership of the global confederation of Catholic relief agencies, Caritas Internationalis (CI), has outlined five lines of action that could help address the crisis in the Central Sahel region, which comprises the West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Even in chains, Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli who was held in captivity for over two years after he was kidnapped by unknown men in the West African nation of Niger remained true to his Christian faith, walking in prayer with all people he had interacted with during his mission in the West Africa.
Ahead of the Global Handwashing Day (GHD) set to be marked in the context of COVID-19 on October 15, Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) has highlighted programs promoting good hygiene practices around the globe, including Africa.
News reports of the release of Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli who was abducted just over two years ago in Niger have brought joy and gratitude to members of the Clergy in Africa and beyond who have interpreted the event as an answer to concerted supplications.
Mali has reportedly experienced a surge in violence involving both civilians and the military since 2016, with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019 alone as compared to some 770 three years earlier.
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons marked July 30, the leadership of Salesian Missions, the U.S.-based development arm of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), has joined other humanitarian organizations in reviewing initiatives toward curbing human trafficking around the world, including countries in West Africa.
Religious leaders in the West African nation of Mali have appealed for calm and peaceful dialogue following days of violent protests and unrest in the country’s capital, Bamako.
A Cardinal in Mali has challenged religious leaders to take up the role of safeguarding peace in the example of sentinels and foster dialogue to end the protracted armed conflict in the West African nation.
Pope Francis has transferred Malian Bishop Jean-Baptiste Tiama, a key figure in advocating for the release of a Colombian nun abducted in February 2017, from Mali’s Sikasso diocese to become the new Bishop of Mopti diocese.
As the crisis in the Sahel region deepens, with reports of recurrent terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad, the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has told ACI Africa that interreligious dialogue is quite significant in resolving the conflict and called on the West to stop arms trade on the continent.
The Catholic Church in the West African nation of Mali last Friday, February 7 offered special prayers for the safe release of Colombian-born Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti, who was kidnapped by jihadists in southern Mali the same date three years ago.
Some days after France and five Sahel nations in Western Africa met and agreed early this week to advance their military cooperation in the fight against jihadist insurgency destabilizing the countries of the region, a West African-based official of the humanitarian arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has underscored the need for stakeholders “to address the root causes of the conflict” even as military interventions are being considered.
Extremist attacks have risen dramatically in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, from 180 incidents in 2017 to more than 800 violent attacks in 2019, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Catholic Relief Services is warning of increasing violence and displacement in the Sahel— the vast area of western and north-central Africa stretching from Senegal to Sudan.