Religion

U.S. Congressional Delegation Visits Nigeria, Rules Out Military Deployment A U.S. Congressional delegation that recently visited Nigeria to assess the country's security situation has ruled out the possibility of deploying American troops to the West African nation. The lawmakers stated that Nigeria's designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) is aimed at encouraging diplomatic reforms rather than invoking military intervention. "It is unacceptable that anyone—Muslim or Christian—is experiencing this level of…

Mthunzi Gxashe, a close aide and son-in-law to Archbishop Desmond Tutu who served as the clergyman’s spiritual companion during his retirement, has died in Johannesburg, his family and associates said. Gxashe was widely regarded at home and abroad for his long association with Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and moral voice of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. In retirement years, Gxashe was described by those around Tutu as a constant presence — helping to manage daily affairs, offering spiritual support and…

Release of Abducted Schoolchildren in Niger State: A Fragile Victory Nigerian authorities announced that they have successfully secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger state. This incident, which unfolded on November 21, saw 315 pupils and staff taken by gunmen from the co-educational facility located in north-central Nigeria. Following the chaos of the attack, around 50 students managed to escape, but the fate of another 165 children and staff remains unknown.…

US Government Unveils Visa Ban for Those Targeting Nigerian Christians The US government has introduced a new policy allowing it to impose visa bans on individuals allegedly responsible for attacks on Nigerian Christians. This significant decision reflects a growing urgency in addressing religious persecution globally. The US State Department's policy change enables the denial of visas to anyone who has directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out abuses targeting individuals based on their faith. This…

Nigeria's Internal Challenges: A Call for Non-Interference from China The Chinese government has reiterated its stance that Nigeria must be allowed to navigate its own internal issues without external intervention. In a recent statement, the Chinese foreign ministry emphasized its role as a strategic partner, asserting opposition to any foreign nation that leverages religion or human rights as pretexts for sanctions or military threats against the West African nation. This declaration follows remarks by U.S. President…

Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Denies Genocide Claims Amid UN Controversy Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has firmly rejected ongoing international claims alleging the Nigerian government’s complicity in the genocide of Christians. This statement comes in the wake of accusations regarding the government's inability to safeguard its citizens, particularly those of the Christian faith, amidst escalating violence in parts of the country. Tuggar's remarks were made following a gathering at the United…

Prominent Zimbabwean pastor Walter Magaya granted bail amid fraud and rape allegations HARARE — A Harare judge on Monday allowed prominent pastor Walter Magaya to be released on bail as he faces a tangle of criminal accusations that have roiled Zimbabwe’s religious and civic life. Magaya, the charismatic founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries, and his wife, Tendai, remain under investigation on fraud charges tied to a multimillion-dollar church housing project that prosecutors say never materialised. He…

South Africa’s top court strips a colonial rule from the registry — and opens a conversation about names, identity and equality In a ruling that reaches beyond bureaucratic formality, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a colonial-era provision that barred husbands from taking their wives’ surnames. The decision — prompted by two couples who challenged the Department of Home Affairs after being denied the right to assume or hyphenate their spouses’ names — requires Parliament to amend the…

Analysis: Egypt’s luxury resort at Mount Sinai — a test of faith, heritage and development When the first pilgrims come down from Mount Sinai at dusk, they still carry the small, sandy relics of a place that has been consecrated in the imaginations of billions: a rocky peak where, in the stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, a prophet received the law. St. Catherine’s Monastery, a fortified Byzantine complex tucked at the mountain’s base, has for centuries been the human anchor in a landscape that Bedouin communities…

In the Crosshairs of Insecurity: Katsina's Call for Urgent Action In the heart of Nigeria's northern Katsina state, a somber cloud hangs over the community following a horrific attack on a mosque that left dozens of worshippers dead. The chilling violence, described by survivors as a retaliatory strike against villagers who had taken justice into their own hands by killing accomplices of armed gunmen, highlights a creeping menace that has become an all-too-common facet of daily life in the region. Calls for urgent…