In the past few weeks I have continued to follow events in Zimbabwe very closely. The brutality of the Mugabe government toward people who voted for the opposition is horrible. Merwyn DeMello sends regular reports of the numbers of people who have been severely beaten or killed - including one horrific video. Janice McLaughlin keeps me informed as well. As they approach a run-off election in the end of June, everyone is apprehensive. I have been in many conversations about how to respond. Pax Christi International just issued a statement yesterday and the US Bishops will send a small delegation in July. But the real pressure on Mugabe has to come from African countries.
Also in recent weeks I have been following the deteriorating situation in Southern Sudan. There is a real fear that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will unravel. I have been in good communication with Ken Thesing who is in Juba and i just received a long letter from the Contemplative Community there. One of the major needs for Southern Sudan is for investment. The big question is 'what kind of investment?' Cathy Rowan has been very helpful in that area.
The Northern Uganda and DRC situations are also not good. In Northern Uganda, Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army has failed to show up to critical negotiations and the LRA is again forcibly recruiting children to fight as child soldiers or to serve as sex slaves.
In the DRC the abuse of women is extremely troubling. At the Africa Faith and Justice Network anniversary event a few weeks ago, they showed a CRS video of some results and much attention has been given to a medical doctor who was in Washington and in New York trying to find some guidance re how to treat the surviving women.
Africa is not only about poverty and violence, but, sadly, the experiences of Africans is too often of these realities.
Marie
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