Latest news with #sub-SaharanAfricans
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Bringing the hopes of young South Africans to the Jubilee
A bishop and young person from South Africa share how young people have been preparing to attend the Jubilee of Youth in Rome from July 28 to August 3, despite challenges and issues. Jul 24, 2025 Young people in the Archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa By Isabella H. de Carvalho'We've already started packing our bags, we can't wait to travel!'. Gladness Mashumbuka Lobina's excitement is palpable over the phone, as she speaks to Vatican News at the end of July, a week before she is due to travel to Italy. The 35-year-old Youth Commission Chairperson, from the Archdiocese of Pretoria, is one of almost 160 young people coming from South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini to attend the Jubilee of Youth, taking place in Rome from July 28 to August 3. Despite 70% of sub-Saharan Africans being under the age of 30, making Africa the continent with the youngest population in the world, many young people had difficulties raising money to be able to fund the pilgrimage to Rome. Nonetheless, the dioceses have been organizing many activities and events for people to experience this Holy Year locally and the youth who are coming are taking the dreams and aspirations of their cohort with them and hope to return to their respective countries with a newfound energy. 'The youth has prepared well during this Jubilee Year', Bishop Siphiwo Paul Vanqa of Queenstown, South Africa, told Vatican News in an interview. As the Liason for Youth of the Southern African Bishops' Conference (SACBC) - which covers South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini - he has seen the preparations for the Jubilee up close. 'The jubilar theme 'pilgrims of hope' has very much been taken on in the dioceses of southern Africa', he explained, adding that between 2000 and 3000 young people attended a local youth pilgrimage earlier in the year. Organizing events to prepare for the Jubilee Year Gladness has seen the same level of enthusiasm in her own diocese, where the Youth Commission launched the initiative 'A Road to the Youth Jubilee' featuring different activities and projects. These included masses, rosaries and other spiritual events centered around 'pilgrim symbols' that travelled around the Archdiocese of Pretoria, novenas and social media campaigns focusing on the Holy Year, and monthly meetings with discussions on different topics from the perspective of the theme 'pilgrims of hope'. These subjects ranged from reflecting on what it means to be a pilgrim, to focusing on serious issues that affect South Africa, such as gender-based violence and femicide. During those events for example 'we would also hold special prayers, as pilgrims of hope, to remember those who lost their lives because of gender-based violence and femicide. We would pray for them and their loved ones but also for the conversion of the perpetrators', Gladness said. Some parishes have also launched their own initiatives to prepare for the Jubilee, such as helping the elderly as part of living the Holy Year concretely. 'It has been quite an amazing journey, young people are excited', she continued. 'It is so refreshing to see the youth wanting to do more for the Church'. Taking the hopes of their cohort with them Gladness and her travel companions will be in fact taking with them the aspirations of their fellow young South Africans who will not be able to attend. During one of the preparatory events in the Archdiocese 'we had this hope room where the young people could write down their dreams and aspirations on a 'hope cloth'. At the Mass with the Holy Father we will carry this cloth with the intentions of our fellow young people here in South Africa to pray for them', she explained. 'We hope that God will indeed grant them their aspirations, their dreams and their hopes'. These different initiatives are also a way to help whoever can't travel to Rome to live the experience of the Jubilee locally. 'We're trying to encourage the young people and show them that, even if you can't afford to go to Rome, in your own space you can be a 'pilgrim of hope',' Gladness said. The challenges faced In fact, in a country like South Africa where over half the population lives below the poverty line and wealth inequalities are stark, many could not gather enough funds to come to Rome. 'There are some dioceses that aren't sending anyone because they couldn't fundraise enough', Bishop Vanqa said, highlighting that even his own diocese was unable to send pilgrims to the event due to economic limitations. Gladness echoed similar issues. 'Finances have been one of the major challenges as most of our pilgrims come from modest families', she said. However, she underlined that several young people did organize fundraising initiatives to raise money, such as making and selling rosaries. For her, another stressful aspect of this trip was visa application processes as 'they were quite lengthy, with tight timelines and some backlog'. About half her group was still waiting on their visas a week before their trip. Gladness' positivity is, however, unshakeable: 'the logistics just require a lot of dedication and teamwork, but we are winning, regardless of the challenges. This is what gives us the reassurance that God has been with us from the start of the process up until now'. A young and energetic population despite the issues Gladness acknowledges that being a young person in South Africa is not easy. 'It's challenging considering the socioeconomic issues of our country. Our unemployment rate is very high, which affects our young people', she explained. The youth unemployment rate in the first half of 2025 was 46%, according to the South African Department of Statistics. Gladness also highlighted other problems such as gender-based violence or mental health issues. However, she also insists that there are a lot of opportunities. With the median age in the country being 30-years-old, young people are very 'energetic and full of life', she said. She for example highlighted that many young people in the Church are active in trying to organize career events or other initiatives that can help respond to the needs of the youth. 'We also have democracy and freedom of rights, we can express ourselves and practise our faith freely', she underlined. 'There are challenges that as young people we find ourselves exposed to. But I believe, as we are pilgrims of hope, we will continue to be hopeful as hope does not disappoint', she said, citing St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Coming back with a new energy This type of energy is what Bishop Vanqa has seen young people take back to their countries after other pilgrimages and he hopes this Youth Jubilee will produce the same effect. 'They come back from these trips rejuvenated and re-energised', he said. 'They can always help us to give that spark to others to love and work for the Church. […] The young people can also share with others their experiences'. 'I'm looking forward to participating in the mass with the Holy Father and doing a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors, to pray at the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul', Gladness said. 'For our young people, most of us, we're just looking forward to our faith being renewed'.--Vatican News
Libya Herald
17-07-2025
- Libya Herald
12,338 migrants intercepted at sea and returned to Libya up to 12 July: IOM
In its Libya Weekly Central Mediterranean Update published last Monday 14 July, the UN's IOM reported that, up to 12 July, a total of 12,338 migrants were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. Of this total, 10,653 were men, 1,136 were women and 404 were children (145 with had no gender data). There were 317 deaths and 286 reported missing. These are migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans, who had set off from the Libyan coast heading for the southern Mediterranean shores. This is mostly the Italian southern coast and more often than not the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. The shortest distance between the Libyan coast and Lampedusa is 300 km – a fact that migrants know and exploit. 2024 In comparison, in 2024, 21,762 were intercepted and returned to Libya with 665 deaths and 1,034 reported as missing. 2023 In 2023, the IOM reported, 17,190 were intercepted and returned to Libya and there were 962 deaths and 1,536 reported as missing.
Morocco World
26-03-2025
- Morocco World
Two Arrested for Promoting Irregular Migration on Social Media
Rabat – Moroccan law enforcement arrested two suspects on Tuesday in Tetouan for allegedly spreading false information and digital content that encourages irregular migration near the border with Spain. Moroccan police have intensified their crackdown on people who disseminate digital content online to encourage and teach others how to cross illegally. After detecting online posts that planned to storm the security fence between Fnideq and Ceuta, police from Tetouan, Chefchaouen, and Fez worked with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) to carry out an operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects involved. To identify the two perpetrators, investigators used technical analysis and ground research. Converging reports stated that upon thorough investigation, police arrested the first suspect in the rural area of Bouzat near Bab Taza, a town near Chefchaouen, and the second in Fez. The two suspects are now in custody for a judicial investigation under the supervision of the prosecutor's office to uncover the circumstances and motivations behind the perpetrator's digital campaign. Read also: Report: Morocco Leverages Position to Control Migration Routes to Europe The operation is part of Morocco's broader efforts to combat irregular migration and human trafficking networks. This incident recalls what happened in September 2025, when some social media users launched a large campaign inciting people to perform an unauthorized entry into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on September 15. The viral campaign effectively gained traction and encouraged hundreds of young people to commit the act, including Moroccans, sub-Saharan Africans, and other nationalities. The crossing attempt turned into scenes of riot, vandalism, and clashes with security forces who were trying to foil the operation. Moroccan authorities said back then that 152 individuals had been prosecuted for inciting irregular migration. The North African country is continuing to take proactive steps to address irregular migration, especially because of its position as a crossing point to Europe. Tags: False informationirregular migrationSuspect arrested
Morocco World
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Report: Morocco Leverages Position to Control Migration Routes to Europe
Doha – A new report by Mixed Migration Centre released this month reveals how Morocco has significantly strengthened enforcement mechanisms along migration routes to Europe, successfully preventing tens of thousands of 'illegal crossings' since early 2023. The study, titled 'Beyond restrictions: how migration and smuggling adapt to changing policies across the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the English Channel,' examines how Morocco's strategic position has allowed it to negotiate favorable agreements with both Spain and the European Union. 'Morocco's ongoing role as both a transit and destination country for migrants has created significant opportunities for it to leverage its position in 'managing migration' between mainland Europe and Africa,' the report states, detailing how this has resulted in multiple deals signed over the past two decades. In July 2022, the EU launched an Anti-smuggling Operational Partnership with Morocco, ostensibly to 'tackle criminal networks, address irregular migration and save lives.' This partnership exists alongside broader EU support worth €1.4 billion for 'reforms and increased resilience' until 2027. According to the report, the diplomatic relationship between Spain and Morocco has also substantially improved since 2022, following an incident in 2021 when approximately 10,000 people entered Ceuta in a single day. The two countries have subsequently repaired and strengthened their 'strategic partnership' on migration through a series of agreements on 'migration management' in 2023. The research indicates that Morocco's enforcement actions have made the Western Mediterranean Route (WMR) 'increasingly inaccessible to sub-Saharan Africans.' Following the 2022 tragedy at Melilla, where 23 migrants were killed, the report notes there has been 'racial profiling that prevents Sub-Saharan Africans from being in the area near the enclave.' 'The Moroccan authorities treat people differently according to whether they are North African or Sub-Saharan. People from Sub-Saharan Africa know that Morocco is not safe for them,' one interviewee told researchers. Morocco holds the line Data from the report shows that since numbers along this route spiked in 2018 with 60,000 crossings, they have steadily reduced and then remained relatively stable at around 17,000 crossings per year. In 2024, arrivals to Spain via the WMR stood at 17,475, comparable to the 17,208 recorded in 2023. This stability in numbers reflects Morocco's consistent enforcement efforts. According to Frontex data cited in the report, numbers along this route in 2024 (between January and October) reduced by 5% compared to the same period in 2023. Despite decreased movement along the WMR, smuggling networks remain active, operating as 'poly criminal networks in order to sustain revenue in times of slowed movement' with diversified income sources across various avenues including illicit drugs and other goods trafficking. This suggests smuggler networks 'could easily be ready to return to, or expand migrant smuggling if demand returns.' The study places Morocco's tight command over migration flows in a wider European context, noting that in March 2025, Frontex reported a 25% drop in irregular migration during January–February compared to the same period in 2024. The report wraps up by applauding Morocco's firm grip on migration flows. As one interviewee noted: 'Spain and the EU have paid Morocco a lot of money for migrant control, so that has reduced the numbers coming through that route.' Read also: Morocco Halts Over 78,000 Irregular Migration Attempts in 2024 Tags: irregular immigration
Voice of America
14-03-2025
- Health
- Voice of America
Africa faces diabetes crisis, study finds
Researchers warn that type 2 diabetes could affect millions more people in the coming decades after a study published this month revealed the disease is rising far faster among people in sub-Saharan Africa than previously thought. Take 51-year-old security guard Sibusiso Sithole, for example. Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes came as a shock, he said, because he walked six miles to and from work every day and never thought his weight was a problem. Then his wife noticed changes in his health. Since his diagnosis 13 years ago, Sithole has been on a rigorous treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure. 'I have to take six ... medications every day,' he said. Diabetes is a condition in which the body struggles to turn food into energy due to insufficient insulin. Without insulin, sugar stays in the blood instead of entering cells, leading to high blood-sugar levels. Long-term complications include heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. The International Diabetes Federation estimated in 2021 that 24 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa were living with the condition. Researchers had projected that by 2045, about 6% of sub-Saharan Africans — over 50 million — would have diabetes. The new study, published this month in the medical journal The Lancet, suggested the actual percentage could be nearly double that. By tracking more than 10,000 participants in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Burkina Faso over seven years, researchers found that poor eating habits, lack of health care access, obesity and physical inactivity are key drivers of diabetes in Africa. Dr. Raylton Chikwati, a study co-author from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, said another risk factor is living in or moving to the outskirts of cities, or 'peri-urban areas.' 'Access to health care, you know, in the rural areas is a bit less than in the urban areas,' Chikwati said, adding that increased use of processed foods in the peri-urban areas was a problem. Palwende Boua, a research associate at the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro in Burkina Faso, said long-term studies are rare in Africa but essential to understanding diseases. 'Being able to have a repeated measure and following up [with] the same people ... is providing much more information and much valuable information,' Boua said, 'rather than having to see people once and trying to understand a phenomenon.' Boua is preparing a policy brief for Burkina Faso's government to assist in the fight against diabetes. For Sithole, managing his diabetes has been a long journey. But with treatment and lifestyle changes, he has regained control over his health. 'What I can tell people is that they must go and check — check the way they eat — because that time I was having too much weight in my body,' he said. 'I was wearing size 40 that time. Now I'm wearing size 34.' Experts stressed that Africans should get their blood-sugar level tested and seek treatment when diabetes is diagnosed.
