Latest Updates

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  Increasing bans on FGM and child marriage in Africa give hope for end of harmful practices

  It has been one month since the Gambian Parliament upheld the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on July 15, 2024 – a practice that experts warn can cause severe short-term and long-term physical and psychological harm, including infections, future reproductive complications, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The ban is a significant milestone, especially given the country’s high FGM prevalence rates.

  6 min read

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  Nigeria continues to tolerate terrorism, USCIRF states

  Nigeria’s government at federal and state levels continues to tolerate attacks by non-state assailants who justify violence on religious grounds, according to a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

  5 min read

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  Global survey reveals religion, prayer most important in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, least important in Western countries

  Europeans are least likely to say that religion is very important in their lives, compared to other parts of the world, and only 42 percent of Americans claim that religion is personally crucial to them. Other parts of the world responded more affirmingly on the importance of religion, specifically within sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The picture was less clear in South and Southeast Asia, compared to the polarized views in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

  2 min read

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  Christian worship services in Nigeria canceled following curfews in several States

  The imposition of curfews in some states in Northern Nigeria has adversely affected Sunday worship and mid-week services, Christian leaders say. State authorities imposed curfews in major cities such as Jos, Kaduna, Zaria, Gusau, Dutse, Kano, Minna, and Damaturu, following the week-long cost of living nationwide protests that had been called by the civil society from August 1.

  3 min read

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  Herdsmen, criminal gang kill at least 50 Christians in Nigeria

  Fulani herdsmen teamed up with a criminal gang to attack a village in central Nigeria on Thursday (Aug. 8), killing about 50 Christians, sources said.

  3 min read

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  Rwanda government closes thousands of churches after failed inspections

  Rwanda closed more than 5,600 churches in July 2024 after nearly a third of the inspected places of worship failed to meet legal standards. The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) said that 13,000 religious institutions were inspected in collaboration with the local authorities. 

  3 min read

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  Zambia mourns death of celebrated gospel musician: his 'faith was beyond this world'

  Zambia is mourning the death of celebrated gospel musician Mathew Ngosa, who passed away on August 1, 2024 at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka after battling liver cancer. Matthew, 46, left an indelible mark in the gospel music industry as some of his songs were played in churches and night clubs over a two decade career. 

  2 min read