December 2025

AFJN Co-Sponsors "CloudOps 2025: Automation Conference and Tech Fair"

On December 19, 2025, AFJN co-sponsored "CloudOps 2025: Automation Conference and Tech Fair" in Lagos, Nigeria. To achieve its full development potential, Africa must have the critical infrastructure for governance, commerce, and public services, controlled internally. CloudOps, hosted by Web Forx Technology Ltd. in collaboration with DevOps Easy Learning Institute, provided a high-impact platform for startups, government agencies, investors, technology professionals and others to engage in cloud computing, automation, DevOps, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Read Mr. Jacques Bahati's, AFJN Policy Analyst, article "Africa’s Digital Backbone and the Challenge of Sovereignty, Jobs, and Development."

Peace Efforts in the DRC

Over the last several months AFJN has been actively campaigning for peace in the DRC including our most recent press release "Africa Faith and Justice Network Welcomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo – the Republic of Rwanda Peace Agreement, Urges Caution and Vigilance." However, fighting continues, political tensions persist, and global demand for the DRC's minerals still fuels violence. Peace requires justice and accountability. Read Mr. Bahati's article "The DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement: Promise on Paper, Questions on the Ground."

In October AFJN with Africa New Day held "A Conversation on the Democratic Republic of the Congo" webinar. The event, originally planned as an in-person discussion at the Rayburn House of Representatives, focused on the crisis in the DRC, including the persecution of Christians by the Allied Democratic Forces, an ISIS-affiliated group in North Kivu. The event was moved online due to the government shutdown. 

In October, Mr. Bahati observed that the peace agreement lacked meaningful incentives for the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) members to disarm, making the condition for peace with Rwanda difficult to achieve in his “Addressing the FDLR [Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda] Question: A Pragmatic Path Toward Lasting Peace Between Rwanda and the DRC” article. The report highlights that without tangible incentives, such as reintegration opportunities, third country relocation, or international guarantees, the FDLR has little reason to voluntarily disarm, which jeopardizes the overall success of the agreement.

AFJN Urges the Trump Administration Not to Use US Military Intervention in Nigeria

On November 3, 2025, AFJN issued the "AFJN Urges the Trump Administration Not to Use Military Intervention in Nigeria" press statement. Our statement included alternative suggestions to military intervention and was picked up by local media.

Prayer Service Proclaim Jubilee! Together We Can End Global Debt

On October 15, AFJN was one of several organizations that sponsored Jubilee USA Network’s prayer service during the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings in Washington, DC. This event highlighted the ever-growing-global-debt crisis as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope’s Turn Debt into Hope Campaign.

Joint Statement to United Nations (UN) on Health and Disease Ahead of High-Level Meetings

AFJN was one of hundreds of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that signed the join statement “Ensuring the Primacy of the Right to Health, Prevention, and Conflict-of-Interest Safeguards at the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases” sent to the UN ahead of their High-Level Meetings in September. 

Cameroon

Over 40,000 Children Lack Birth Certificates in the Dioceses of Ngaoundere and Yagoua

AFJN and the Dioceses of Ngaoundere and Yagoua partnered to conduct a survey that revealed 40,000 children lack birth certificates, rendering them vulnerable to statelessness and limiting their access to essential services such as registering to take the end of primary education exams. To address this, AFJN is piloting a project to guide the families of 300 children through the registration process and establish local Strategic Monitoring Committees to promote community education and outreach on the importance of birth registration. This is a new area of AFJN's work after years of successful outcomes in the Dioceses of Bafoussam.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

AFJN’s Unity Through Diversity Updates

This year, AFJN organized ten public events, including a major concert at St. Aloyse Catholic Parish featuring 13 youth choirs and nearly 1,000 singers. The children’s version of the anthem has gained widespread popularity, helping spread the message of unity across churches and communities.

• Read Mr. Bahati's “Music as a Catalyst for Peace: AFJN’s Impactful Unity through Diversity Program in the DRC” article.
• Read the “‘TUISHI PAMOJA Remix’ - A Hymn for Restorative Peace and Unity” article.

Ghana

AFJN Documentary on the 10-Year Anniversary of Land Grabbing Conference

To mark the 10th Anniversary of the Continental Land Grabbing Conference, an AFJN initiative with African and European partners, we commissioned a documentary of our work in Ghana that is to premiere in 2026. Please stay tuned on our website and email communications for more information about this special event. Read Mr. Bahati's article "Documentary & Media Campaign: 10 Year of Action Against Land Grabbing in Ghana."

Continued Outreach through the Media

AFJN also launched a media campaign across 10 radio stations in the Volta and Oti regions, that followed our 7-community-town-hall meetings, reaching up to 3.18 million listeners. The rebroadcast of the program continues to raise awareness on these issues. A report documenting the stories behind the photos and videos captured during this mission will be shared in 2026.

Sierra Leone

Empowering Communities: Promoting Accountability in the Extractive Industries

AFJN spearheaded a groundbreaking gathering between FG Gold and the Baomahun community stakeholders in Sierra Leone, a first-of-its-kind engagement that brought together over 800 participants. This pivotal meeting tackled pressing concerns and established a Joint Community Company Dialogue Committee, underscoring AFJN's dedication to transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. This milestone event demonstrates AFJN's unwavering commitment to holding powerful corporations accountable to the communities whose resources they exploit. Read Dr. Roger's article "Historic Community Engagement Meeting in Baomahun Brings Together FG Gold and Local Stakeholders in Sierra Leone."

Read the “Community Voices and Corporate Accountability: After-Event Report on the Valunia Community Engagement Meeting” report. 

Liberia

Promoting Integrity in Education

AFJN's 2024 survey of the Diocese of Gbarnga's school system revealed concerning patterns that have impacted educational quality. In response, Bishop Anthony Borwah and AFJN are developing targeted interventions to implement accountability measures, aimed at rebuilding trust and ensuring responsible resource allocation.

Read the full “Promoting Integrity in Education: Survey Findings on Corruption in Diocese of Gbarnga Schools, Liberia” report.

+ In Memoriam: Sr. Mary Lilly Driciru MSMMC – “Christ must reign”

AFJN mourns the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Sr. Mary Lilly Driciru, MSMMC (Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church) who tragically lost her life on November 8, 2025. Sr. Lilly was the AFJN Coordinator for the WEP in Uganda and a dedicated advocate for justice, peace, and human rights. Learn more about Sr. Lilly here (including videos and an article).

Over 400 Children Excited for School: Community Creating Solutions to Keep Attendance High

Youth spoke up for education, in a community where the chief opposed it for years, and now the community has over 350 children back in school with youth volunteering their time to teach. Noticing some children were leaving early because they were hungry, the community pulled their resources and provided lunch 2-3 days a week for the children. AFJN in collaboration with the community is also harnessing the media and their advocacy skills to raise awareness of the school’s needs. Now we are working on reaching out to the government to provide additional assistance to the school and community. Through media outreach, the community received water access to the school from a donor.

Following TV coverage of the success, many calls for more information have been received by AFJN on best practices as to how the community, with AFJN’s mentorship, has been so successful in an area where many others have failed. Read Sr. Eucharia Madueke, SNDdeN's, AFJN Women Empowerment Project Coordinator, article "Empowering Girls, Reviving Education: AFJN's Work in Kuli Ghana" about this impactful work.

Sisters Tackling Sex Tourism in Kenya’s Airbnbs and Hotels

In October AFJN trained sisters around Mumbasa on how to educate and advocate, with local communities, to end sex tourism. Sisters were sensitized on these issues impacting the coastal communities and AFJN worked with them on direct engagement with communities, local government leaders, civil society organizations (CSO)s and other stakeholders asking for partnership in addressing this issue. The District Commissioner was grateful for the visit and asked them to do a similar program in Nairobi to advocate for the creation of governmental regulations around these issues.

Following the workshops eleven NGOs and CSOs formed a coalition led by the sisters in advocacy to target Airbnb properties and hotels that allow sex tourism and trafficking. The regulations protecting children from hotels do not apply to the new Airbnb properties. They also noted that many times there is no enforcement protecting children even with the current regulations. The coalition hopes to stop this by sensitizing the local communities in: emphasizing education, using media messaging, and stopping trafficking. They also hope to create a task force to deal with these issues.

Content provided by AFJN-Nigeria: Mr. Peter Ewah and Mr. Christian Nkanta.

Awka, Anambra State Policy Briefing and Market Sensitization on Child Rights

From December 14-16, AFJN and AFJN-Nigeria (AFJN-N) took a significant step in community advocacy by bringing the campaign against Domestic Servitude and Early and Child Marriage with a policy briefing and community engagement activities in Awka, Anambra State Nigeria. During the events they reviewed laws, identified areas of concern, and challenged key stakeholders to act on behalf of the vulnerable.

One key activity was doing outreach in the heart of the Awkuzu Market where our team engaged the merchants and customers educating them about the rights of the child and the Nigeria laws in their own dialect. By removing the language barrier, deep and honest conversations were held about the dangers of these practices and the importance of protecting children's future. By working together to end child exploitation, every child will have the opportunity to thrive.

16 Days of Advocacy Against Gender-Based Violence

On November 25, 2025 AFJN with AFJN-N, Ebonyi State Chapter, in collaboration with the Ebonyi Coalition of Civil Society Organizations participated in 16 Days of Activism for the International Day Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The event served as a powerful symbol of solidarity and commitment to ending GBV by raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and girls. It began with read walk from Waterworks to the Stadium that included representatives from National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour, and other CSOs. AFJN delivered a keynote address that focused on the importance of ending these practices and reiterated the need to work with stakeholders.

AFJN's participation in the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism global campaign to galvanize action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls underscores our dedication to promoting social justice and human dignity and serves as a platform for stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to ending GBV and promoting a society that values the dignity and worth of all individuals.

Read Mr. Peter Ewah's, "International Day Commemoration: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" article. here:

Founding Sisters do a Six-Year Review of Women Empowerment in Nigeria

In September the founding sisters of the Women Empowerment Project gathered virtually to re-energize and evaluate past activities of the project. The sisters expressed gratitude to God to have been chosen to be a founding member especially as they reminisced about their journey and struggles and the immense achievements of this humble project. They also made plans for an in-person gathering and advocacy events in Abuja. 

Facebook Live Discussion: Educating the Public on the Medical Effects of Child Marriage

On November 30 AFJN-Nigeria held a "Medical Effects of Child Marriage: Educating the Public" FaceBook live discussion. Click here to view the event: https://www.facebook.com/AFJNNIGERIA/live_videos.

AFJN Nigeria Policy Briefing Enugu - Ending Early Child Marriage and Domestic Servitude

On September 22, 2025 the AFJN with AFJN-Nigeria and other sponsors held a powerful "Policy Briefing on Ending Domestic Servitude and Early Child Marriage" broadcast on National TV, at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Church Enugu, Nigeria. Over 250 people attended the event that brought community leaders, government officials, church leaders and other stakeholders together to discuss actionable strategies for creating a safer future for children and youth. The Chief Justice gave the keynote address. All in attendance committed to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the use of the MOU as a tool for the government. A day earlier AFJN visited Nkwonike Grammar School, to sensitize the children on these issues. 

Read Sr. Teresa Anyabuike, SNDdeN's "Calling to Action: Women Empowerment in Nigeria" article about the event and the current atmosphere about the issues.

Protecting Children Through MOUs in Nigeria

Throughout 2025, AFJN, in collaboration with AFJN-Nigeria, AFJN-Nigeria Youth Advocates, the NAPTIP, the Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and other partners, has been conducting community outreach programs to raise awareness about protecting children from early and child marriage, domestic servitude, and child labor. As part of these efforts, MOUs are being signed with local leaders, outlining provisions to safeguard children's rights, including parental declarations of intent to give out their child and community monitoring of children's whereabouts.

These MOUs aim to establish community safeguards to protect children from abuse and exploitation. During the outreach programs, community members expressed concerns about various issues, including unemployment, infrastructure development, access to electricity, poverty, education system improvement, and the need for government intervention and law enforcement. Additionally, community members emphasized the importance of involving a broader segment of the community, including women, and highlighted the need for police reform and anti-corruption measures to restore trust.

AFJN thanks the speakers including: Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, Rev. Sr. Teresa Sunday, Isaac Obot, Barrister Mrs. Amaka, Reverend Sister Stella Usen, Isaac Obot, Etido Ekpeyong, Christian Nkanta, Ikot Ekpene, Abasiofon Udo, Saviour Obot, Mrs. Emem Ukpabio, Maureen Mfon, Mr. Etido Udo, and Mr. Peter Ewah (and many others).

Akwa Ibom State

On September 18 His Royal Highness Edidem Nana Etim Itang, Paramount Ruler of the Ikono Local Government Area (LGA), accepted the MOU presented by youth advocates and directed village heads to disseminate this information within their communities at youth gatherings, family assemblies, and village meetings. This followed AFJN-Nigeria Youth Advocate outreach to over 30 village heads.

On September 15, AFJN Youth Advocates engaged the Adiasim Ikot Essien Ndot Community in Essien Udim. The Village Head warmly received the team and adopted the MOU. The Village Chairman Mr. Nsidibe Dennis was appointed as Chairman of the Community Monitoring System. The advocates were invited to engage with the women of the community and were requested to do additional training with the youth and a daily broadcast on the local radio.

On September 2 AFJN Youth Advocates visited the Council of Village Heads in Essien Udim to sensitize the Council who said they needed the LGA Chairman and the Leader of the House to endorse the MOU for it to become law. The Chairman Council of Village Heads Essien Udim, Chief Ekpo welcomed the idea and invited the team to visit his community for further sensitization. Unfortunately due to a scheduling conflict with the Senate President, only a few number of Village Heads were in attendance at the meeting but a follow up meeting is planned. 

Ebonyi State:

Following the youth advocacy workshop, youth outreach has successfully secured the adoption of MOUs in Abakaliki. The communities appreciate the efforts to keep children in the community and the requirement for guardians to be transparent when removing children from the community. Read the Ebonyi State Annual Report. 

Plateau State:

On September 4 AFJN Youth Advocates from Jos and Shendam, in collaboration with NAPTIP, commenced community engagement and sensitization efforts across three districts in Shendam LGA: Du'ut District with the ‘Madaki’; Long Gomai with the District Head of Du'ut; and 24 community and youth leaders representing various groups and religions within the district. The forum raised awareness, fostered discussions, and identified actionable solutions to build safer communities and empower individuals.

During our last WEP visit in Uganda the community expressed concern that school children were not safe so together we advocated for a fence to be put up around the Lokopo Primary School. We are happy to report that the school is now fenced. This fence serves to protect children while they are in school so they can focus on their studies, relieving the fear of parents and guardians. Additionally, the Lokopo community farm crops will be ready to harvest early next month even though the lowering lying areas were impacted by too much water. Overall the community is happy with this initiative towards more food security.

+ In Memoriam - Mr. Don McCrabb

It is with sadness that AFJN announces the passing of our former Board Member Mr. Don McCrabb on December 10, 2025.

More information will be posted in the coming days here: https://afjn.org/don-mccrabb/

Strategic Business Plan

AFJN held the several strategic planning meetings towards the formulation of the AFJN Strategic Business Plan. We expect the document to be finalized early in 2026.

AFJN Research Fellows and Fall Intern

AFJN is looking for Summer, Fall, and Spring interns. More information can be found on AFJN’s Internship page. Learn more about AFJN's Internship Program and apply online here.

Happy Thanksgiving

Read Dr. Rogers' Thanksgiving message here: https://afjn.org/2025-t-day/

Coalition Outreach

AFJN continues to network with local and national organizations including hosting Catholic Task Force on Africa (CTFA) meetings. Mr. Bahati attended the Advocacy Network on Africa (AdNA) retreat and presented an action plan for the AdNA DRC advocacy group and discussed the war in Sudan. To participate in the CTFA, please email lydia@afjn.org.

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