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Monthly Archives: May 2018

Kyrgyzstan. A Geopolitical Pivot.

Kyrgyzstan merits to be called a ‘geopolitical pivot’. It is a territory that, due to its geographic characteristics, occupies a central position in super-power rivalry. A landlocked country, it is prevalently mountainous and Tian Shan Range occupies 65% of its territory. To the east it borders on the Chinese province of Xinjiang, a highly strategic…

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Burundi. The May referendum: a “death warrant” for the Peace Agreement.

According to the opposition, the referendum would be a “death warrant” for the 2000 Arusha Peace Agreement and increase the risk of a civil war. The constitutional referendum scheduled for the next 17 May could prolong President Pierre Nkurunziza’s rule until 2034. If accepted by the electorate, those constitutional changes would enable the head of…

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DR Congo. The Commitment of the Church to the People.

A sound formation, pastoral competence, a political vision and single-mindedness are the distinctive traits of Mons. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the new coadjutor bishop of Kinshasa.   The appointment of Mons. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu as coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa alongside Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo, resulted from the desre of Pope Francis to lend them his support in…

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Tajikistan. Great Power Interests.

Tajikistan, situated at the heart of central Asia, was a transit area crossed by caravan trails between Europe and China. The country borders Afghanistan to the south; China to the east (the Xinjiang region); Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and again Uzbekistan to the west. The territory is mostly mountainous, closed between the Turkestan…

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FIFA World Cup/Africa. The Road to Russia.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia will be the greatest sporting show on earth this year. Between 14 June to 15 July, 32 team will make billions of people dream, enjoy and weep. Africa will be represented by five nations.   Because of the political and military involvement in different areas around…

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Central Asia. A Great New Game.

The region of Central Asia, because of its geographic location, has always been considered a historical place of interest for, and of confrontation between, the great powers, as well as the stage for the famous ‘Great Game’ between the British and Russian Empires. Following the implosion of the Soviet Union that led to the independence…

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Niger another Afghanistan.

Under the Guise of Security and Resources Niger Has Attracted Ever More Foreign Intervention. And Not All of It is Benign. Niger, until not long ago a forgotten and poor country on the margins of the oil producing states of North Africa, has acquired much greater strategic importance since 2011. Niger’s importance, with all its…

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Singapore. Towards a vibrant and missionary Church.

The journey of the Catholic Church. Commitment to authentic interreligious dialogue. Social works. Education. An interview with His Grace William Goh Seng Chye, Archbishop of Singapore A City-State of South East Asia, Singapore is the fourth largest financial centre in the world with an important role in international trade and finance. Its port is one…

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Nigeria. The Bishop is not a traditional Chief.

In the end, Mons. Peter Okpaleke resigned. He was rejected by local priests and a group of Christians because he didn’t belong to the Mbaise ethnic group, predominant in the small diocese of Ahiara, in the southeast of Nigeria. A missionary who has spent forty years in Nigeria explains the reasons and what is to…

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Europe at a Crossroad.

One year ahead of the next European elections, the debate over citizens’ participation heats up: How to bring the institutions closer to the citizens? The best inspiration can be found in an extraordinary meeting that took place exactly 70 years ago. In May 1948 more than 800 persons from all walks of life met in…

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Uzbekistan. A Delicate Balance.

Uzbekistan, like Kyrgyzstan is one of the five Central Asian republics created in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country borders to the north-east with Kazakhstan; to the east with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan; to the south with Afghanistan; to the south-west with Turkmenistan.  It is mostly desert plains though in the east…

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Advocacy

Adriano Karipuna. The Amazon. Protecting our territory.

He has inherited the legacy of his father, one of the few survivors of the genocide half a century ago, and represents a "people" that…

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Baobab

The cat... with a bag.

One day, a penniless farmer from an oasis went to a rich merchant in the neighbouring village to ask for a loan. The old harvest was…

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Youth & Mission

Peace in the Holy Land.

God of Comfort, send your Spirit to encompass all those whose lives are torn apart by violence and death in Israel and Palestine. You are the Advocate of the…

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