Originally published in Bloomberg Business Week The US has offered to pay a reward of as much as $7 million for information leading to the arrest of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist group. Shekau is among five alleged Islamist militants active in northern and western Africa […]
Africa News
Nigerian army kills 3, captures 25 in crackdown on Boko Haram
Originally published by Reuters Nigerian soldiers have killed three members of Islamist militant sect Boko Haram and arrested 25 more in the northeast, the army said on Tuesday, two weeks after the launch of a major ground and air offensive to crush the group’s four-year rebellion. President Goodluck Jonathan declared […]
Persecution in Eritrea getting worse
Around 1,200 Christians now incarcerated after a spate of arrests in 2013 By World Watch Monitor Religious persecution in Eritrea is at its “highest level ever and getting worse”, an Eritrean Christian leader, who cannot be named for security reasons, has told the Christian charity Open Doors International. Thirty-seven Christian […]
Catholic church asks new CAR leader to break silence on atrocities by his fighters
Catholic leader’s letter challenges Djotodia on ‘desire to turn CAR into an Islamic republic’ By Illia Djadi — World Watch Monitor The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic (CAR) has written a letter to the former rebel leader and new President, Michel Djotodia, raising concerns about his past and […]
Nigeria: Christians back emergency rule
Originally published in allAfrica.com Last week’s declaration of a state of emergency in three states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe has received the official endorsement of the umbrella body of Christians across the country, especially from among the most affected faithful in the troubled region, reports Sam Eyoboka . In […]
Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kill Christian leader in Nigeria
Shooting occurred within hour of State of Emergency declaration Originally published in Morning Star News JOS, Nigeria, May 15, 2013 (Morning Star News) – Gunmen believed to be members of the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group yesterday killed the Rev. Faye Pama Musa, secretary of the Borno state chapter of […]
Church in Tanzania bombed in inaugural service; 3 killed
Originally published in Barnabas Aid Three people were killed and around 58 wounded in the bombing of a new church in Tanzania during a service to mark its official opening. An explosive device was thrown into the church compound in Olasti, a predominantly Christian suburb of Arusha, on Sunday (5 […]
55 dead after suspected raid in Nigeria by Islamist sect Boko Haram
Originally published in The Independent The Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram is thought to have been behind a deadly siege on the northeastern town of Bama on Tuesday that left 55 people dead. Military sources in Nigeria said 200 heavily armed members of Boko Haram arrived in buses and pick-up […]
Sudan intensifies arrests, deportations of Christians
Originally published in Morning Star News Sudan has stepped up its arrests and deportations of Christians, with interrogation including threats to bury them alive, sources said. Besides the deportation to South Sudan of the secretary general of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference on April 12, other Christians have been targeted […]
Goodluck Jonathan’s amnesty gamble
If Boko Haram is granted pardon, will justice be done? Will Christians in Nigeria be safe? By World Watch Monitor A month ago, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he would not negotiate with the militant Islamic sect Boko Haram because they were “ghosts,” faceless adversaries who would not step forward. […]