Pope Francis’ Commitment to Africa

When Pope Francis presided over a Mass that incorporated elements of Congolese tradition in St. Peter’s Basilica in 2019, it was seen as a sign of his enduring commitment to Roman Catholics across Africa.

A Growing Catholic Population in Africa

About a fifth of Africa’s population, roughly 280 million people, are Catholic. Nearly a fifth of all Catholics are Africans, and that balance is changing: According to the Vatican, more than half of the 13 million people who joined the church in 2022 were in Africa.

Potential African Successors

Among Francis’ potential successors from Africa is Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the 65-year-old archbishop of Kinshasa, whom Francis made a cardinal in 2019, who was a member of his Council of Cardinals and who led the opposition to the Vatican’s declaration allowing the church to bless homosexual couples.

Impact of Francis’ Legacy in Africa

Francis’ legacy in Africa is mixed, with some crediting him for adapting church teachings to African customs and others saying his messages at times felt out of touch with the diverse and strongly held beliefs that animate many African societies.

African Catholics’ Perspective on Francis

On many topics, African Catholics said Francis had preached values close to their hearts, including a more respectful relationship to nature, interreligious dialogue with Islam, and the importance of incorporating local traditions into one’s faith.

Challenges in Africa

For all of Francis’ attention to Africa, Catholics there noted that his influence and calls for peace yielded few results. The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo entered a new deadly phase this year, African migrants face deadly obstacles in the perilous journey to Europe, and the two competing leaders of South Sudan are threatening a new war.

Conclusion

Others said the care and attention Francis gave to Africa would be what they remembered about him most. “Our country was at war but he still came here to share our suffering,” said Eugenie Ndumba, a parish lecturer in Congo, which Francis visited in 2023. “He knew where his children were, and he made sure he went toward them.”

Belgium Open to Deeper Involvement in DRC’s Minerals Sector

Chronic Instability in DRC

The DRC is home to large reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, and uranium among other minerals, but chronic instability has long been an obstacle to the foreign investment needed to fully develop them.

Seeking New Investment Partners

Kinshasa is trying to attract new players to the sector and talks are already under way with Washington after a Congolese senator pitched a minerals-for-security deal contacted US officials.

Belgium’s Interest in Congolese Minerals

Asked by Reuters about possible interest in Congolese minerals, foreign affairs minister Maxime Prevot said Belgium had firms with the know-how to ramp up its role in the sector.

Expertise in Rare Critical Materials

Prevot mentioned that Belgium has globally recognized expertise with players like Umicore and John Cockerill, who have the capacity to process all these rare critical materials.

Potential Investment Partnership

“If one day the opportunity arises to also be an investment partner, we will not pull back,” Prevot added.

Visit to DRC

Prevot is visiting the Great Lakes region, including Uganda and Burundi. On Monday, he met Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa and President Félix Tshisekedi.

Somalia Bans Taiwanese Passport Holders

Somalia on Wednesday barred Taiwanese passport holders from entering the country, a move that Taiwan authorities attribute to increasing Chinese pressure on the Horn of Africa nation.

The Background

Somaliland, a breakaway territory in Somalia’s north, has strengthened its ties with Taiwan in recent years, sparking outrage in both Somalia and China. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not recognized by any government.

The Travel Ban

Somali authorities cited compliance with United Nations Resolution 2758, recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the sole Chinese authority. The memo also deemed Taiwan’s representative office in Hargeisa a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.

Reactions

Taiwan’s foreign ministry called for the ban’s reversal and advised nationals against traveling to Somalia or Somaliland. Somaliland’s foreign minister described the ban as “unfortunate” and “alarming.” China welcomed Somalia’s decision, emphasizing Taiwan as part of China.

The Geopolitical Game

China’s influence in Africa aims to isolate Taiwan. Somaliland seeks recognition and support from Taiwan, which has provided aid and training to the region. Somalia views this partnership as a threat to its territorial integrity.

The Future

Experts predict more geopolitical tensions between Somalia, Somaliland, China, and Taiwan. The ban on Taiwanese passport holders signals further complications in the region’s unresolved issues.

In conclusion, the travel ban on Taiwanese passport holders highlights the intricate political dynamics in the Horn of Africa and the global power struggles at play.