FIVE MAJOR HEADLINES OF 2021 AND WHAT THEY MEANT FOR THE CHURCH
By Alex Pollock In this edition of A World in Motion (AWIM), we look at five major headlines from 2021 that played into larger themes currently affecting our world. From political unrest and humanitarian disasters to terror attacks and a continued rise in migration, 2021 presented the Church with many challenges, as well as many…
THOUSANDS RALLY FOR TUNISIAN PRESIDENT URGING CHANGE TO POLITICAL SYSTEM
By Donnelly McCleland Thousands of supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied rallied in the capital and other cities on Sunday [3 October] to back his suspension of parliament and promises to change the political system, acts his critics call a coup. The demonstration of at least 8,000 people in central Tunis was by far the…
HAITIANS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE AMID DEPORTATIONS AND NATIONAL CRISES
In September, a humanitarian crisis developed at the US southern border when more than 14,000 immigrants from Haiti crossed the Rio Grande — fleeing poverty, natural disasters, violence, and more to try and claim asylum in the US. By mid-month, a makeshift camp was set up under a border bridge in Del Rio, Texas. But,…
29 SEPTEMBER ’21 | PRAY FOR SUDAN
Dear prayer partners, On Sunday 26 September, Sudan’s military said it had repelled an attempted incursion by Ethiopian forces in the border area between the two countries. Tensions have escalated along the border between Sudan and Ethiopia since the outbreak of conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region last year that sent tens of thousands of…
22 SEPTEMBER ’21 | PRAY FOR GERMANY
Dear prayer partners, On 26 September, Germany will vote for the 20th Bundestag (parliament) of the post-war era, after which Angela Merkel will stand down as chancellor after 16 years in office. The German Bundestag is composed of representatives of the German people who are elected for four years in general, direct, free, equal, and…
MOROCCO’S DOMINANT ISLAMIST PARTY SUFFERS CRUSHING DEFEAT
By Donnelly McCleland Morocco’s long-dominant Islamist party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections as voters, frustrated over unemployment and corruption in the North African country, threw their weight behind a party close to the royal palace. The demise of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) echoed that of its peers in other North African…
TUNISIAN PRESIDENT RELIEVES PRIME MINISTER, SUSPENDS PARLIAMENT
On Sunday 25 July, Tunisian President Kais Saied relieved Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi from his duties and dissolved parliament following protests and growing unrest. Defence Minister Ibrahim Bartagi and acting Justice Minister Hasna Ben Slimane were also removed from their posts. Mr Saied insisted his actions were in line with article 80 of the Tunisian…
ARMENIA SEEKS OPPORTUNITIES TO BOLSTER ECONOMY AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
On Saturday 17 July, Armenia’s constitutional court rejected an appeal challenging the results of the 20 June snap parliamentary elections. The office of prime minister will be returned to acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, whose party won 71 parliamentary seats, leaving 29 seats to a bloc led by former president, Robert Kocharyan, and seven seats…
HAITI THROWN INTO UNCERTAINTY AFTER PRESIDENT’S ASSASSINATION
By Alex Pollock The president of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, 53, was shot and killed in his private residence, the interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph announced Wednesday [7 June]. The president’s residence said in a statement that the attack occurred around 1 a.m. and that his wife Martine Moise was also wounded and taken to hospital….