There is a lot of uproar on the socials currently in regards to the tragedies happening in the continent of Africa right now.
But many of you might be wondering, ‘what is actually happening?’ and ‘how can I help if I’m not there?’.
Here is a little bit of insight into what is happening in the Motherland:
Congo (DRC)
cc: Reuters
The is a silent genocide currently happening in Congo, where people are being tortured, brutalized and murdered for Congo’s vast natural resources.
Congo is considered to be the richest country in the world regarding natural resources. Its untapped deposits of raw materials are estimated to be within excess of US $24 trillion. Yet it is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Make it make sense.
It holds the largest reserves of coltan & cobalt minerals. Which are used in electric cars, aeroplanes, laptops and even that phone you are using to read this article.
Countries including France, US and the UK have been providing military resources and funds to Uganda and Rwanda in order to invade regions that are filled with these natural resources. In the midst of this, many civilians are being killed and brutally murdered. Citizens including children, women and men are being enslaved and forcefully made to engage in mining labour.
How to Help:
Demand equals supply – The more we buy the more they have to make and mine. So, hold off on buying new electronics every year, you won’t die if you don’t’ have the latest iPhone.
Awareness – Repost and share this information, bring awareness. The more we bring light to the situation the more the mining and technology companies will take this issue seriously. #nocongonophone #congogenocide
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGdUnc4F-6o/?igshid=i7klx0lhgpew
Nigeria
SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad), is a police unit in Nigeria which was set up in 1992. The unit has become one of the most terrorizing groups in Nigeria. Riddled with cases of theft, abuse, rape, extortion and extra-judicial killings mainly targeted at innocent youth. At least 82 cases of ‘torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial execution’ have been conducted by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020 (Amnesty International).
Since this report, various protests have taken place within Nigeria and worldwide (USA and UK). SARS has been recently disbanded but a new unit SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) has been recruited to ‘fill in the gap’. This may seem like progress but Nigerians are worried history will repeat itself with this new unit. So they have taken back to the streets protesting #EndSWAT.
How to Help:
Awareness – share the information on your socials and retweet relevant posts #EndSWAT #endsars #endpolicebrutality
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGaiy-hlRW9/?igshid=1ah9i1lrck7vs
Cameroon
There is a huge Anglophone (English speaking minority regions) crisis in Cameroon that dates back years but recently elevated in 2016 during a period of political warfare. During which demonstrations, strikes and protests occurred as a result of a year of oppression by the current Cameroon government.
The government responded to these demonstrations by wrongfully jailing and arresting Anglophone leaders, journalists and media personal covering the issue. Thus blocking the internet for months and placing a nationwide curfew to further oppress the people and their efforts. Last year things intensified with several demonstrators, journalists and protesters being killed during massive demonstrations.
How to Help:
Awareness – share the information on your socials and retweet relevant posts #justiceforcameroon
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGXr9-dBHCn/?igshid=5mohcu9075gn
There is much more going on in African than just these three events highlighted here. Other countries that are facing tragedies right now are Namibia, Liberia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
As Christians, we can’t stay quiet about such blatant abuse of human life. Jesus didn’t just stay speaking on a mountain. He purposefully addressed very specific cultural issues with His words and His actions.
Open they mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:9
Africa needs our attention and voice right now. So let’s use our words and our actions to help.
WRITER: Kapungwe Besa, My Edge Mag social media coordinator