Africa
Global: 1.4 million children at risk of starvation
It has been six years since the world had a famine, but now UNICEF report that nearly 1.4 million children are at ‘imminent risk’ of death from famines in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan…
Ghana: young boys rescued on Lake Volta
Twenty-four boys used their small bodies every day to dive into the deep water of the lake to untangle nets for their masters. It was dangerous, back-breaking work, made worse by violent abuse,…
Gambia no longer to be called Islamic
Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, has announced that the country will no longer officially be called an Islamic republic, reversing the decision made by his predecessor in 2015. There had been encouraging signs…
Zimbabwe: ‘flag’ pastor Evan Mawarire detained
A Zimbabwean pastor who criticised his government has been detained after flying back to the country. Evan Mawarire, who left the country last year in fear for his life, was arrested at Harare…
Drought grips East Africa
‘Children have dropped out of school due to hunger; pregnant women and the elderly are the most affected. Cattle, which are the only source of livelihood, are dying, and the remaining ones are…
Somalia: a new president is elected
On Wednesday Somalia's presidential elections took place, with over twenty candidates to choose from. In a surprise result, former prime minister Hassan Sheikh Mohamud decisively defeated the incumbent president. It is the first…
Archbishop on water inequality
The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has said the problem of water supply and sanitation illustrates why South Africa ‘is one of the most unequal countries in the world.’ He also described…
South Africa: deaths of nearly 100 mentally-ill
Malegapuru Makgopa, South Africa’s health ombudsman, has said that 94 mentally-ill patients died of starvation, dehydration and diarrhoea at care centres last year. The deaths followed a ‘reckless’ attempt by the government to…
Sudan: three men found guilty
(Updating last week’s Prayer Alert article) On Sunday Judge Osama Ahmed Abdulla found Czech national Petr Jašek guilty of espionage. He was sentenced to life imprisonment plus a further three and a half…
ROOTS, REALITIES & RESPONSES: LESSONS LEARNT IN TACKLING WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN
Stop Child Witch Accusations (SCWA) is a coalition of Christian individuals and agencies responding to the reality of children experiencing serious harm or the threat of harm due to accusations of witchcraft or…
