标签： Africa

In a historic move, Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a significant milestone for the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. Her appointment, announced on Friday, has sparked both celebration and controversy within the religious community. In her inaugural address, Dame Sarah emphasized unity, quoting, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone – if you want to go far, go together.’ However, her selection has deepened existing divisions, particularly among conservative factions. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), a network of conservative churches primarily in Africa and Asia, expressed ‘sorrow’ over the decision, citing theological objections to female leadership and same-sex blessings. Conversely, the Church of Southern Africa hailed the appointment as ‘historic,’ reflecting a broader liberal shift within the Church of England. The Anglican Communion has long been divided over issues such as the ordination of women bishops and the acceptance of same-sex relationships, with conservative leaders like Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda arguing that ‘the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes in a male-only episcopacy.’ Despite these tensions, progressive voices, including Bishop Emily Onyango of Kenya, have welcomed Dame Sarah’s leadership, describing it as ‘a new dawn’ for the Church. As the first woman to hold this prestigious role, Dame Sarah faces the dual challenge of fostering unity and addressing pressing social issues, particularly in Africa, where women and children continue to suffer. Her leadership will undoubtedly shape the future of the Anglican Communion, as it navigates its complex and evolving identity.

In a groundbreaking legal decision, seven individuals from Kenya have successfully proven their paternity in a UK Family Court, establishing that their fathers were British men stationed at an army base in Kenya. This marks the first instance in UK legal history where paternity was confirmed through commercially available DNA databases. Six of the fathers had served at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk), while one was a contractor. The ruling paves the way for the claimants to pursue British citizenship, offering them a long-awaited resolution to their identity struggles. The case was spearheaded by British lawyer James Netto and geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court, who collaborated on a project to collect DNA samples and testimonies from residents in Kenya’s Nanyuki region, near Batuk. Many individuals in the area had long suspected their fathers were British servicemen, but lacked concrete evidence. The project utilized public DNA databases to connect claimants with their UK-based relatives. Among the claimants is Peter Wambugu, a 33-year-old chef, who shared his emotional journey with the BBC. Peter grew up knowing his father was a British soldier but never met him. He endured childhood bullying due to his mixed-race heritage and carried the pain of abandonment for decades. After reuniting with his father, Peter expressed profound relief, stating that the pain of discrimination had transformed into joy. Another claimant, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, recounted meeting her father only once at age four and growing up feeling deeply abandoned. James Netto hailed the ruling as the culmination of an arduous journey for many families, emphasizing that it provides answers to long-standing questions. He noted that numerous others near Batuk face similar challenges, particularly those with limited information about their fathers. Andrew Macleod, a lawyer involved in the DNA project, hopes the case will prompt the UK Ministry of Defence to address paternity claims more proactively. The Ministry stated that while such claims are considered private matters, it cooperates with local child support authorities when necessary. This case is part of a broader investigation by the BBC, featured in an upcoming five-part podcast series, ‘World of Secrets,’ which explores the complexities of identity and paternity in Kenya.

In a historic decision, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled that both parents of newborns are entitled to equal parental leave, marking a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality and family rights. The court declared parts of the existing legislation unconstitutional, stating that it discriminated against fathers. Under the current law, mothers are granted four months of leave, while fathers receive only 10 days. The ruling allows parents to share the total leave period as they see fit, promoting shared parenting responsibilities. Justice Zukisa Tshiqi, delivering the judgment, emphasized that the law unfairly burdened mothers and marginalized fathers, perpetuating outdated gender roles. The case was initiated by a married couple, the Commission for Gender Equality, and others, who argued that the legislation unfairly excluded fathers, adoptive parents, and parents of children born to surrogates. The court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting family dignity and ensuring children’s wellbeing by allowing both parents to be actively involved in their early development. Legal experts noted that the ruling will have profound implications for employers, who must now revise their leave policies. The court has suspended its declaration of invalidity for three years, giving parliament time to amend the laws accordingly. In the interim, parents can decide how to allocate the combined four months and 10 days of leave. If only one parent is employed, they may take the full leave entitlement. The judgment has been widely celebrated as a progressive step toward modernizing South Africa’s approach to parenting and gender equality.

Robert Mugabe Jr, the 33-year-old son of Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe, appeared in a Harare court on Thursday, charged with drug possession. The arrest occurred on Wednesday morning when Mugabe Jr was reportedly driving the wrong way down a one-way street. According to court documents, police searched a black sling bag he was carrying and allegedly discovered two small sachets of cannabis. Following the incident, authorities arrested five individuals allegedly linked to a drug syndicate connected to him. Mugabe Jr’s lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, has contested the charges, claiming the drugs were found in a car with three other occupants and amounted to only 0.02 grams of cannabis, contrary to the police report stating 2 grams with a street value of $30. Mugabe Jr, dressed in joggers and a red cap, appeared relaxed as he entered the magistrates court, surrounded by people and without handcuffs. The court remanded him in custody pending a bail ruling on Friday. Police also reported recovering 25 sachets of marijuana and six ecstasy pills from the alleged syndicate members. This is not Mugabe Jr’s first legal issue; in 2023, he was arrested for property damage and assaulting a police officer at a Harare party, though he was later released after an out-of-court settlement. His father, Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for 37 years before resigning in 2017, passed away in 2019. Despite past tensions between the Mugabe family and current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe Jr has since reconciled with the ruling party, attending a Zanu-PF rally in 2022.

In the aftermath of a religious festival, the small Ethiopian town of Arerti was plunged into mourning as mass funerals were held for 36 victims who perished in a tragic scaffolding collapse at the St Mariam Church. The incident occurred during the annual Orthodox Christian celebration of St Mariam, where worshippers had gathered in the still-under-construction church. Eyewitnesses reported that a significant number of people climbed onto the makeshift wooden scaffolding to view a newly painted mural on the church ceiling, leading to the structure’s collapse. Among the victims was the mother of 22-year-old Fikre Tilahun, who expressed his profound grief, stating, ‘It’s difficult to lose your mother, very difficult.’ The disaster left about 200 people injured, with some in critical condition being transferred to Addis Ababa for treatment. The local archbishop, Megabi Hadis Nekatibeb, described the event as ‘incredibly tragic and heart-breaking.’ The Ethiopian government extended its condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the importance of safety in construction projects. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of poorly enforced health and safety regulations in Ethiopia, where construction disasters are unfortunately common.