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The ASEA Daily News & Resources

Africa Southeast Area

Monday 12 October 2015 Issue: 197

(First Issue on 6 November 2014)

The Church has: . 37 Official General Authority Facebook Pages & 27 Official Church Organizations Pages

Africa Southeast Area Websites

Countries

Mormon Newsroom Sites

Link from these sites to Facebook!

Mormon Newsroom Facebook sites.

Church HQ Mormon Newsroom Mormon Newsroom Facebook page (English)

Angola Angola Mormon Newsroom Angola Mormon Newsroom Facebook (Portuguese)

Botswana none Botswana Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Congo DR DR Congo Mormon Newsroom DR Congo Mormon Newsroom Facebook (French)

Congo Rep none Republic of Congo Mormon Newsroom Facebook

(French)

Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Newsroom Indian Ocean Mormon Newsroom Facebook (French)

Kenya Kenya Mormon Newsroom Kenya Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Madagascar Indian Ocean Newsroom Madagascar Mormon Newsroom Facebook (French)

Malawi None Malawi Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Mozambique None Mozambique Mormon Newsroom Facebook

(Portuguese)

Namibia None Namibia Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

South Africa South Africa Mormon

Newsroom

South Africa Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Uganda Uganda Mormon Newsroom Uganda Mormon Newsroom Facebook page (English)

Zambia none Zambia Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Mormon Newsroom Zimbabwe Mormon Newsroom Facebook (English)

Totals for ASEA 7 Country-Mormon Newsrooms! 14 Country Newsroom Facebook pages!

ASEA YouTube ASEA (Africa Southeast Area) Public Affairs YouTube Channel

HQ YouTube Mormon Newsroom YouTube Account

AFRICASE Africa Southeast Page Africa Southeast Area Facebook page

Helping Hands Mormon Helping Hands - Africa Southeast Facebook page

Public Affairs All Public Affairs individuals are able to access the Public Affairs Network (Secure Site) at this link: Public Affairs Network

Online Resources

Use of Online Resources in Church Callings When carefully used, the Internet can help coordinate the work of the Church, strengthen faith, and minister to the needs of others. The Internet can also help with missionary work as people connect with friends and family and share Church content. However, electronic communication should not replace face-to-face contact.

Law and Religion Symposium BYU Law International Center for Law and Religion Studies

Emergency Preparedness: Emergency Preparedness and Response

Calendar

18 October 2015 Tanzania Presidential and Parliamentary elections

20 October 2015 Kenya Mashuja Day (Heroes Day)

25 October 2015 DR Congo Provincial elections

25 October 2015 Tanzania Parliamentary and Presidential elections

26 November 2015 African Girls Summit to end child marriage. Lusaka, Zambia

Tuesday 16 December 2015 South Africa, Day of Reconciliation

25 October 2015 Tanzanian General Elections

27 November 2015 DR Congo Presidential Election

21 February 2016 Niger Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

Keyword News Topics below in Tan

Country Specific News Topics in Light Blue

Church Articles of Interest to Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

New Presiding Bishopric Announced Bishop Gérald Caussé is 15th presiding bishop in Church's history

Major LDS growth in Africa unaffected by priesthood restriction, Elder Sitati says SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church is using a previously unreported self-reliance program in Africa that is yielding positive results on a continent where the church is seeing "close to exponential" growth, Elder Joseph W. Sitati said Friday. A Kenyan who is a member of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Sitati shared the information during the lunch plenary session of the "Black, White and Mormon" conference at the University of Utah. He also said African Mormons know about but "are largely unaffected" by the past restriction on blacks of African descent receiving the LDS priesthood, in part because the restriction ended in 1978 on the heels of the end of colonialism in Africa. Since then, LDS Church membership on the continent has grown rapidly. In 1978, there were 7,567 Mormons in Africa. At the end of 2014, there were 448,487. Among them was Elder Sitati, who joined the church in 1986. Another 45,000 African immigrants have joined the church elsewhere, including 15,000 in the United States. In fact, over the past five years, more than 50 percent of new members baptized in Europe are immigrants from Africa. "The rate of growth has been close to exponential," Elder Sitati said, adding that it is accompanied by some of the highest new-member retention rates in the church. Mormons gather to discuss challenges of being black in predominantly white religion SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — African-American Mormons discussed the ongoing challenges of belonging to a predominantly white religion Friday during a university conference designed to address the status of blacks in the faith. Darius Gray, a pioneering black Mormon, commended church leaders for publishing an essay in 2013 that disavowed a previous ban on blacks in the lay priesthood. The essay offered the most comprehensive explanation ever from church headquarters about the ban that was in place until 1978. Still, Gray noted, only two in 10 Mormons have read the essay, limiting its impact. The common theme at the conference at the University of Utah: Discussions about race in the Mormon religion don't happen enough at congregational levels. "There is a level of fear in exposing the truth behind the racist history of the church," said Paulette Payne, a Mormon TV personality in Atlanta who moderated a panel on race and Mormon women. "When you fear something, you don't necessarily want to expose it for what it is because it then becomes a reflection of you."

Upcoming Church related Historical Events in the ASEA Area. (taken from the resource section at the end of this Daily News)

Burundi 19 October 2010: Elder Holland dedicated the country of Burundi. Angola 20 October 2010: Elder Christtofferson dedicates Angola

Uganda 23 October 1991: James E. Faust dedicates Uganda.

Kenya 24 October 1991: James E. Faust dedicates Kenya Zimbabwe 25 October 1991: James E. Faust dedicates Zimbabwe.

Malawi 25 October 1999: Elder Nelson dedicates Malawi

Central Africa Republic 29 October 2012: Elder Holland dedicates CAR.

Gabon 05 November 2013: Elder Bednar dedicates Gabon

Tanzania 18 Movember 2003: Elder Nelson dedicates Tanzania

Mauritius 22 November 1988: Elder Ashton dedicates Mauritius

Reunion 23 November 1988: Elder Ashton dedicates Reunion

South Africa 1 December 1973: President Kimball rededicates South Africa. (exact day not known)

If anyone has any additional historical events for the ASEA Area historical calendar …please email them to the address at the top of page 1

Interesting Stuff about Africa & ASEA area Found in the news stream.

Hokulea's voyage to Madagascar reveals language ties HONOLULU —Hokulea is about 40 nautical miles away from Madagascar, which is a special stop for the crew, a homecoming of sorts. Madagascar is home to amazing ecosystems, animals, and people who are distant cousins of Native Hawaiians. They are part of the migration of the Austronesian people. “It’s starting to change all of our thinking about oceanic people that began in southeast China, Taiwan area – 7,000 years ago – probably a crude craft that traveled south down to Micronesia and Melanesia and then

branched to the one we know very well, went more into Polynesia, so we’ve been sailing this domain for 40 years,” said Nainoa Thompson, Hokulea’s master navigator. However, another branch later headed into Indonesia and Madagascar. The proof is in the DNA as well as in Madagascar’s languages, which is called Malagasy. The Malagasy languages show some influence from Bantu languages in South Africa, but it’s very clearly an Austronesian language. If you count to ten, you can see it right away: Eis, Rua, Telu, Ethetra, Dime. For the first five, very similar to a language like Hawaiian – Ekahi, Elua, Ekolu, Eha, Elima,” said Professor Robert Blust, UH-Manoa Department of Linguistics.

Medical News Found in the news stream.

Global Doctors performs surgeries in Central African Republic Volunteers from Küresel Doktorlar (Global Doctors), which is composed of 118 Turkish health organizations, performed a number of surgeries in the Central African Republic (CAR) during Eid al-Adha and donated medical supplies. A total of 11 doctors, including a general surgeon, a pediatrician, a family physician, a dental surgeon, an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, an anesthesiologist and a gynecologist, performed several surgeries, mostly for cataracts and circumcision. The group arrived in CAR before Eid al-Adha and stayed there throughout the eid holiday. Apart from performing surgeries, the doctors also gave medical supplies and devices to local doctors as well as training them to use the equipment. Speaking to Today's Zaman on Friday, Saim Şendil, one of the attending physicians who performed circumcision surgeries in CAR, said: “We have performed a number of surgeries in the Central African Republic. This country is one of those with the worst financial circumstances in Africa. We gave the medical supplies and equipment that we brought with us to the doctors working in the Central African Republic as donations.” Nobel Prize Winning Malaria Drug Product of Secret Military Project The development of the life-saving malaria drug artemisinin that won Chinese pharmacologist Tu Youyou the 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine this week sprang from a secret military project by the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to U.S.-based Chinese news agency Duowei News. Tu received half of the total prize valued at 8 million Swedish krona ($960,000) for her contributions to the development of artemisinin, which has been responsible for saving millions of lives in tropical regions all over the world.

Social Media Found in the news stream.

Religious Freedom Found in the news stream.

Misc. Found in the news stream.

Animal Conservation and related articles

Multiple African Countries or other African Countries Democracy Activists Push Against African Autocrats (An excellent article-rb) In the next few months, African voters will go the polls in several countries, including Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Guinea and the Central African Republic. In many instances, it is not clear who is likely to win, even in countries where polls show the leadership to be unpopular. That’s because there are competing pressures between pro-democracy reformers and governments exercising new ways to maintain power. Often, long-established governments have retained the upper hand. The days of overt ballot box stuffing may be over, but Jennifer Cooke, the Africa director for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said authoritarian regimes are now using subtle and even legalistic ways to defeat opponents. They include strict media regulations, broadly interpreted security laws, and a crackdown on pro-democracy NGOs that receive foreign funding. Some use the democratically elected legislature or courts to enact constitutional reforms to remove presidential term limits. When confronted with the declining popularity of its long-serving ruler, the ruling party in Angola introduced reforms to ensure that the president would no longer be elected by direct vote, but by the majority in parliament. Cooke said even in places like Tanzania, which she called “a donor darling,” there are troubling media laws, including those that allow police to seize computers without justification. There are also laws that forbid the publication of statistics that are not approved by the government.”

Angola

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 64% / 26% Population: 24,316,360

Penetration of population w/ internet 19.4% Labor Force: 9,298,000

GDP per capita USD$ 8,100 Life Expectancy: 52

Unemployment / year est. 26% / 2014 Church Members: 1,436

Population below poverty line: 40.5% Congregations: 8

Angola Discusses State of African Economies At IMF Assembly Luanda — Finance minister Armando Manuel last Thursday in Lima, Peru, said that the analysis of the current state of the African economies of reference can get a substantial contribution from Angola at the meetings of the Annual Assembly of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), set to happen on 5- 11 October, 2015. The Finance minister made such consideration during an interview he has granted to the Angolan press about world state of affairs and some current important issues in Angola, having stressed that the two countries (Angola and Chile) will share their respective policies choice with senior IMF officials and scholars.

Botswana

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 164% / 26% Population: 2,115,710

Penetration of population w/ internet 13.2% Labor Force: 1,017,000

GDP per capita USD$ 16,000/2014 Life Expectancy: 47

Unemployment / year est. 17.8% / 2009 Church Members: 3,104

Population below poverty line: 30.3% Congregations: 12

Burkina Faso (A West African Country)

Burkina Faso Travel Warning (Lifting) Saturday, October 10, 2015 This Travel Warning is being issued to inform U.S. citizens that the Department of State on October 9 terminated the “Authorized Departure” status which allowed eligible family members and non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou to voluntarily depart the country on September 21. Washington DC - infoZine - As a result of the termination of “Authorized Departure,” eligible family members and non-emergency personnel who departed Burkina Faso may now return. The decision to allow the return of eligible family members and non-emergency personnel has been made because of improved civil conditions which include the reopening of the airport and the resumption of commercial flights to and from the country. The transnational military and police forces also appear to be, again, firmly in control; and the transitional Government President, Michel Kafando, has been reinstated. Gunmen attack Burkina Faso police station; 3 dead OUAGDOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Authorities say three police officers have been killed after some 50 armed men attacked a police station near Burkina Faso's border with Mali. The attack took place early Friday in Samoroguan, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the border, according to a statement. Resident Appolinaire Kam said two civilians were seriously injured in the attack. Burkina Faso has largely been spared the attacks by Islamic extremists suffered by its neighbors Mali and Niger, but Friday's attack marks the second time in a month that a police station has been targeted by gunmen. Burkina Faso remembers coup victims Burkina Faso President Michel Kafando joined a gathering of up to 3,000 people Friday to remember victims of a short-lived September 17 coup which left 14 dead and 251 injured. The multi-faith memorial gathering, witnessed by an AFP reporter, saw ten coffins draped in the Burkinabe flag laid out in Ouagadougou's central Place de la Nation square, renamed Revolution Square following the fall 12 months ago of ousted president Blaise Compaore. The failed bid to overthrow the transitional government by members of the presidential guard (RSP) still loyal to Compaore left the country on the edge of chaos for six days before collapsing with its leaders admitting they did not enjoy popular support.

Burundi

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 25% / 2% Population: 11,010,900

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.4% Labor Force: 4,806,000

GDP per capita USD$ 900 Life Expectancy: 54

Unemployment / year est. 35% / 2009 Church Members: 526

Population below poverty line: 68% Congregations: 3

Son-in-law of Burundi activist shot dead Nairobi - Unknown gunmen on Friday killed the son-in-law of a prominent Burundian human rights activist who openly opposed President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial bid for a third term in office, a relative said. The relative said the gunmen shot Pascal Nshirimana, son-in-law of Pierre Clave Mbonimpa, at around noon in the capital, Bujumbura. Mbonimpa, who heads the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH), was himself shot and wounded in August by gunmen on motorbikes, and is receiving treatment in Belgium. “Two people on a motorbike shot at him (Nshirimana) and threw grenades as he was at the gate waiting for it to open. He died immediately,” the relative said. “He was not a politician. He was just a businessman.” Bank attack leaves nine dead in Burundi At least nine people including seven bandits, a policeman and a bank client were killed when eight bandits attacked a bank at Buyenzi neighbourhood in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, police sources said on Friday. "The robbery targeted the BCB bank, Buyenzi branch, around 03.00 a.m. The armed bandits aboard a truck first killed a policeman guarding the bank and took away his gun, killed a bank client and then took two bags of money before driving away their truck while shooting," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye, Xinhua reported. According to him, police agents were alerted and blocked the way to the bandits' truck at a roundabout in the city centre. Burundi: Govt Raises Red Flag Over Sanctions Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling party CNDD-FDD has warned that the European Union sanctions against three top officials may derail efforts to resume dialogue between the government and the opposition.

A fortnight ago, the EU imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on four Burundians for allegedly blocking peaceful attempts to resolve the country's nearly six-month-old conflict. In addition to the EU sanctions on senior officials, Belgium announced suspension of about $60 million in aid to Burundi, whose budget is 52 per cent donor-funded. 2 more corpses discovered near Burundi's capital BUJUMBURA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Another two corpses were discovered Thursday morning in two different localities near Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, police confirmed. One of the two corpses was discovered with arms tied at a place in Mutimbuzi, some 12 km west of Bujumbura, and the second one was found nearby with bullet wounds, said Burundian Police Deputy Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye. He said investigations have been launched to identify the victims and arrest the killers. On Sunday morning, at least eight corpses were discovered in Bujumbura's Mutakura neighborhood. Nkurikiye said that the eight victims were killed in weekend clashes between policemen and "insurgents." Battle in Burundi One decade ago Burundi was a burgeoning democracy. Six months ago it was plunged into political crisis that continues until today. When President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his run for a controversial third term in office, violence erupted. Despite opposition claims of the vote being unconstitutional and in violation of the Arusha Agreement, Nkurunziza’s bid was successful and he began a new term in August. Since then Burundian security personnel have been accused of frequently raiding opposition strongholds in the capital Bujumbura. The government denies they’re behind it blaming criminal elements instead, but dead bodies continue to appear. According to the UN the official death toll is 134, but some say that number doesn’t reflect the reality of the violence. The political crisis is worsening and dissidents are fleeing. Relations with neighbouring Rwanda are troubled, and refugees are pouring across the border. On the next Stream we’ll speak to Burundians about their country, has it reached the point of no return? Burundi demands Belgium replace envoy: diplomat Brussels (AFP) - The embattled government of Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has demanded that Belgium replace its current ambassador, the Belgian foreign ministry told AFP on Friday. The revocation of ambassador Marc Gedopt, first reported by French broadcaster RFI, comes just days after the Belgian government suspended several development projects in an effort to pressure Nkurunziza, who returned to power in July after controversial elections. Burundi's envoy to Belgium confirmed the request to the cabinet of Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders, foreign ministry spokesman Didier Vanderhasselt told AFP. Sources in Bujumbura told RFI that the government in Burundi requested the removal of the Belgian ambassador due to the "deterioration in trust" with Belgium, the country's biggest aid donor until the current crisis broke out.

Cameroon

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 71% / -% Population: 23,248,261

Penetration of population w/ internet Labor Force: 9,105,000

GDP per capita USD$ 3,000 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 30% / 2001 Church Members: 1,498

Population below poverty line: 48% / 2000 Congregations: 7

Twin suicide bombings kill 11 in north Cameroon: sources Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in Cameroon's Far North Region early on Sunday, killing 11 people, three military sources told Reuters. "We have about 11 dead and 10 injured," said a senior army source, referring to the attacks in the town of Mora. It was not immediately clear if the death toll included the attackers.

Central African Republic (CAR)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 33% / 1% Population: 4,851,884

Penetration of population w/ internet 3.4% Labor Force: 2,217,000

GDP per capita USD$ 600 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 8% / 2001 Church Members: 216

Population below poverty line: na Congregations: 1

Head of election commission resigns in Central African Republic BANGUI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The president of Central African Republic's election commission said he was resigning on Friday, casting further doubt on plans for a vote meant to restore democracy to a country rocked by fighting since 2013. Dieudonne Kombo Yaya gave no reasons for his decision but told state radio he doubted the vote, scheduled for Oct. 18, could be held this year. The authority's vice president also stepped down last month. The elections are supposed to bring in a new government with the authority to restore order in one of Africa's most turbulent states and pave the way for the departure of U.N. and French peacekeepers. Central African Republic plunged into turmoil in 2013 when Muslim rebels from an umbrella group called Seleka seized power in the majority-Christian country. Seleka handed power to a transitional government in 2014 under international pressure but months of violence followed, killing thousands and resulting in the effective partition of the country. The murder of a Muslim man in the capital in late September triggered another burst of inter-communal violence that killed at least 40 people, forced 40,000 to flee and destroyed homes, shops and humanitarian offices. (Reporting by Crispin Dembassa-Kette; Additional reporting by Sebastien Lamba; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Andrew Heavens) Violence, unrest hinder Central African Republic aid efforts-agencies Unrest and violence in the capital of Central African Republic which killed dozens, injured hundreds and uprooted tens of thousands of people are hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid across the country, aid agencies said on Wednesday. Fighting broke out in Bangui just over a week ago after the murder of a Muslim man triggered reprisal attacks on a largely Christian neighbourhood, with armed gangs burning homes and looting shops and aid organisations' offices.

The latest violence, the worst in the capital this year, has killed more than 60 people, injured around 300 and displaced almost 40,000 in Bangui, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Chad (This country borders ASEA)

47% / -% Population: 13,288,797

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.4% Labor Force: 4,919,000

GDP per capita USD$ 2,600 Life Expectancy: 51

Unemployment / year est. 22% / 2009 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 80% / 2001 Congregations:

Authorities say 5 suicide bombings by Boko Haram target Chad village, killing at least 36 N'DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — At least five suicide bombers on Saturday targeted a village in Chad that is home to thousands of Nigerians who have fled Islamic extremist violence, killing at least 36 people and wounding about 50 others in what appeared to be coordinated attacks, officials said. Authorities blamed the extremist Boko Haram group from neighboring Nigeria for staging the attacks in the western village of Baga Sola, according to a communique from government spokesman Hassan Sylla Bakari. It said 41 people had died, including the five suicide bombers who were identified as two women, two children and a man.

Congo Rep. (Brazzaville)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 100% / 7% Population: 4,753,445

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.0% Labor Force: 2,890,000

GDP per capita USD$ 6,600 Life Expectancy: 59

Unemployment / year est. 53% / 2012 Church Members: 6,053

Population below poverty line: 46.5% / 2011 Congregations: 17

Tens of thousands rally in support of Congo leader's bid to extend rule Brazzaville (AFP) - Tens of thousands of supporters of Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso took to the streets of the capital Brazzaville on Saturday to back his controversial bid to change the constitution in order

to remain in power. The rally came ahead of an October 25 referendum that will determine whether the veteran leader -- who has already had three decades in power -- can seek another presidential term. The constitution currently bars the 72-year-old from running again as there is an age limit of 70 as well as a ceiling of two mandates. The Congolese government said Monday that the

referendum would be on scrapping both the two-term limit and the age cap. Authorities opened the campaign period for the referendum on Friday.

Congo DR (Kinshasa)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 59% / 8% Population: 71,509,992

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.0% Labor Force: 27,590,000

GDP per capita USD$ 700 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 46% / 2009 Church Members: 42,689

Population below poverty line: 63% Congregations: 145

DR Congo electoral commission chief's resignation sparks concern Kinshasa (AFP) - The surprise resignation of the Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission chief, announced Saturday on television, triggered concern among opposition ranks that President Joseph Kabila may be looking to postpone a critical vote due next year. Abbott Apollinaire Malu-Malu submitted his resignation as chief of the independent national electoral commission (CENI) for health reasons, according to a statement carried by state television. The resignation comes amid heated tensions in DR Congo over presidential and parliamentary elections due in November 2016, with Kabila's foes arguing he is seeking to hold on to power illegitimately. The constitution bars him from seeking a third elected five-year term at the end of his mandate late next year, but he has yet to comply with opposition demands to publicly state that he will not to run again.

Equatorial Guinea

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 87% / -% Population: 802,008

Penetration of population w/ internet 16.0% Labor Force: 195,200

GDP per capita USD$ 32,600 Life Expectancy: 53

Unemployment / year est. 22.3% / 2009 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

Ethiopia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 26% / 49% Population: 101,683,016

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.7% Labor Force: 47,320,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,500 Life Expectancy: 64

Unemployment / year est. 17.5% / 2012 Church Members: 1,854

Population below poverty line: 39% / 2012 Congregations: 64

Gabon

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 175% / -% Population: 1,742,265

Penetration of population w/ internet 9.9% Labor Force: 636,000

GDP per capita USD$ 21,600 Life Expectancy: 63

Unemployment / year est. 21% / 2006 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

Kenya

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 83% / 67% Population: 46,764,772

Penetration of population w/ internet 36.7% Labor Force: 17,700,000

GDP per capita USD$ 3,100 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 40% / 2008 Church Members: 12,471

Population below poverty line: 43,4 / 2012 Congregations: 62

How Christians in Kenya are trying to hack government corruption Africa's largest windfarm set to connect remote Kenya to the grid Lake Turkana’s fierce winds have plagued villagers for generations, now they have inspired plans for Kenya’s most ambitious infrastructure project in 50 years - a 310MW windfarm, that they said was an impossible dream

….“Wind power varies depending on the time of day,” said Mugo Kibati, chairman of the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project. “Your typical windfarm would have 25-35% utilisation capacity. Lake Turkana will be 62%

utilisation capacity.” That helped convince the government to get on board but there was also scepticism from the local community. KENYA ARRESTS FOUR GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Authorities arrested four girls and their parents in Pokot Central Sub County in Kenya after the children received female genital mutilation (FGM).

The girls told the media they chose to undergo the procedure due to peer pressure.

Lesotho

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 95% / 24% Population: 2,074,095

Penetration of population w/ internet 5.3% Labor Force: 894,400

GDP per capita USD$ 2,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 49

Unemployment / year est. 25% / 2008 Church Members: 867

Population below poverty line: 49 / 1999 Congregations: 2

Madagascar

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 40% / ? Population: 24,540,641

Penetration of population w/ internet 73.5% Labor Force: 12,150,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,400 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 65

Unemployment / year est. 3.6% / 2013 Church Members: 10,322

Population below poverty line: 50% Congregations: 38

Madagascar: four sentenced to hard labour for life over mob lynching Antananarivo (AFP) - A Madagascar court handed four men the maximum sentence Friday of hard labour for life over the mob lynching in 2013 of two Europeans and a local man, who were beaten and then burned on a beach. The sentencing came as the court tried 37 people over the October 2013 murders, which were committed by a mob acting on false rumours of foreign involvement in the death of an eight-year-old local boy and a paedophilia connection.

Malawi

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 37% / 10% Population: 17,393,962

Penetration of population w/ internet 72.2% Labor Force: 5,747,000

GDP per capita USD$ 800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 6.6% / 2013 Church Members: 1,931

Population below poverty line: 53% / 2004 Congregations: 8

Malawi President Aims to Restore Accountability WASHINGTON—Malawi’s President Arthur Peter Mutharika says his administration is implementing new public management reforms in a bid to weed out corruption by ensuring accountability and preventing financial malfeasance. He says his stance is zero tolerance for corruption, adding that he wants to restore a culture of accountability. Donor support, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country’s budget, has been withdrawn after officials were accused of stealing millions of dollars in public funds. Malawi economists say the country is plagued by high inflation and the fall of the country’s currency, the Kwacha.

Mauritius

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 128% / 40% Population: 1,322,860

Penetration of population w/ internet 6.2% Labor Force: 600,200

GDP per capita USD$ 17,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 74

Unemployment / year est. 8.3% / 2013 Church Members: 458

Population below poverty line: 8% / 2006 Congregations: 2

Mozambique

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 58% / 22% Population: 27,282,161

Penetration of population w/ internet 5.6% Labor Force: 12,250,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,100 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 17% / 2007 Church Members: 7,943

Population below poverty line: 52% / 2009 Congregations: 26

Mozambique's opposition leader under house arrest MAPUTO (Reuters) - Mozambique's opposition party leader Afonso Dhlakama was placed under house arrest on Friday as he returned from hiding after a shootout that killed 23 members of his entourage last month. Dhlakama's home outside Beira was raided by security forces on Friday morning. Members of his security detail were arrested and residents in surrounding areas told to vacate the area, and a large military and police presence remained outside the house. Moz forces raid Dhlakama home Johannesburg – Heavily armed security forces stormed the Beira home of Mozambican opposition Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama on Friday, arresting some of his personal guards. It was not immediately clear if they intended to arrest Dhlakama himself. Local media said several prominent local citizens, including the Bishop of Beira, Dom Claudio Dalla Zuanna, the mayor Quelimane Manuel de Araújo (a member of the opposition party Mozambique Democratic Movement), and Sofala province governor Maria Helena Taipo, were in the house mediating between Dhlakama and the security forces. Mozambique: Dhlakama's Guards to Receive Police Training Maputo — Part of the deal ending the Friday confrontation in the central Mozambican city of Beira between the riot police and militiamen guarding Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the former rebel movement Renamo, is that Dhlakama's guards will now be recruited into the police and receive police training. On Friday afternoon, all the 16 guns still in the possession of Dhlakama's guards were collected and handed over to the police via a group of mediators. These included the Vice-Chancellor of the Polytechnic University, Lourenco do Rosario, and Anglican Bishop Dinis Sengulane, two of the men who had been mediating the dialogue between the government and Renamo which Dhlakama broke off abruptly in August. They were joined by the Catholic Archbishop of Beira, Claudio

Zunna and the Mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araujo (who is a leading figure in the second opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic movement, MDM). Mozambique jails corrupt education officials up to 20 years Eight education officials have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for their part in a fraud scandal amounting to U$825,000 from the coffers of the Ministry of Education between 2008 and 2011, APA learns here on Sunday. According to state-controlled Sunday paper, Domingo, much of the money was stolen by duplicating the Ministry’s wage sheets, taking advantage of the transition from manual to electronic payment of wages. The prosecution said the corrupt officials put the names of staff who were already receiving their wages electronically onto the list of those whose wages were still being processed manually. Prosecuting attorney Tacia Martins told the court that these extra wages were then drained into nineteen bank accounts which had nothing to do with the ministry. The fraudulent scheme also involved the names of 43 Cuban teachers hired by the Ministry. The prosecution claimed that the wages for these teachers continued to be processed, even after their contracts had expired and they had returned to Cuba. Mozambique: Race Against Time to Save Kariba Dam London — A catastrophic failure of the Kariba Dam on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia would put three and a half million lives at risk and knock out forty per cent of southern Africa's hydroelectricity supply, according to a recent report. The report by the Institute of Risk Management of South Africa entitled “Impact of the Failure of the Kariba Dam” warned that 181 billion cubic metres of water could be released if the dam wall failed. Eight hours later this wall of water would hit and destroy the Cahora Bassa dam in central Mozambique. The report states that the lake behind the Kariba Dam is the largest man-made reservoir in the world. The dam was commissioned in 1960 and is central to the power requirements of Zimbabwe and Zambia. It has a maximum output of 1,839 megawatts. Further down the Zambezi River, Cahora Bassa has a maximum output of 2,075 megawatts. However, the water gushing out of the Kariba Dam's sluices has been eroding the rock at the bottom of the dam. Originally the water was only ten metres deep at the foot of the dam, but erosion of this plunge pool has increased the depth to ninety metres and has been wearing away rock near the dam's foundations.

Namibia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 137% / 32% Population: 2,325,019

Penetration of population w/ internet 14.8% Labor Force: 1,168,000

GDP per capita USD$ 10,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 6

Unemployment / year est. 27.4% / 2012 Church Members: 793

Population below poverty line: 28.7% / 2010 Congregations: 2

Niger

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 25% / 2% Population: 19,289,323

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.6% Labor Force: 5,800,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 58

Unemployment / year est. 2.25% / 2009 Church Members: 793

Population below poverty line: 63% Congregations: 2

Nigeria

(This country borders ASEA)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 107% / 15% Population: 179,825,664

Penetration of population w/ internet 37.6% Labor Force: 54,970,000

GDP per capita USD$ 6,100 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 52

Unemployment / year est. 23.9% / 2011 Church Members: 129,989

Population below poverty line: 70% Congregations: 416

Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Continues as Two Key Arrests Are Made in a Widening Graft Investigation Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is pressing forward with his crackdown on corruption and is sending a clear message that corruption no longer will be “business as usual” in his country. During his September 28th speech before the U.N. General Assembly, President Buhari urged the international community to step up its efforts to locate and return to Nigeria millions of dollars of funds that allegedly were stolen during previous administrations and are being held in foreign bank accounts. Buhari alleges that former government officials stole around $150 billion from government coffers and repatriated those funds to foreign bank accounts. Elected in May on a pledge to address corruption, Buhari has vowed to recover the stolen money and to hold accountable those responsible.

Reunion Island

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 105% / 48% Population: 874,345

Penetration of population w/ internet Labor Force:

GDP per capita USD$

Life Expectancy:

Unemployment / year est. 40% / ? Church Members:

Population below poverty line: Congregations:

Rwanda

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 61% / 28% Population: 12,540,798

Penetration of population w/ internet 9.2% Labor Force: 6,061,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,700 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 64

Unemployment / year est. 3.4% / 2012 Church Members: 281

Population below poverty line: 44.9 / 2011 Congregations: 3

Rwanda Opposition Leader Continues Fight on Constitution The leader of Rwanda’s main opposition Green Party says next week his organization will officially appeal to President Paul Kagame to urge him not to contravene the constitution by seeking another term. A recent court ruling paves the way for Kagame to amend the constitution and seek another seven-year term. The constitution only allows a president two seven year terms. Kagame’s second term is set to expire in 2017, but supporters want term limits removed from the constitution to allow Kagame to seek another term. Rwanda’s top court clears way for Kagame third term KIGALI, (Reuters) – Rwanda’s Supreme Court ruled yesterday that President Paul Kagame could run for a third seven-year term, rejecting an attempt by the main opposition party to block changes to the country’s constitution. In the latest instance of an African leader seeking to extend his days in power, the Kagame-controlled parliament backed a motion in July to let him run again as leader of the east African state.

The constitutional changes must pass a referendum although there is little chance of them failing due to Kagame’s control over the media and many aspects of public life, as well as his popularity as a nation-builder after a 1994 genocide.

Somalia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 50% / 2% Population: 10,742,489

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.5% Labor Force: 3,011,000

GDP per capita USD$ 600 / 2010 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 25.4% / 2012 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

South Africa

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 154% / 35% Population: 51,621,506

Penetration of population w/ internet 46.8% Labor Force: 20,230,000

GDP per capita USD$ 12,700 Life Expectancy: 57

Unemployment / year est. 24.9% / 2013 Church Members: 61,221

Population below poverty line: 31.3% Congregations: 159

South Africa is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court South Africa plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over concerns that the court is biased against African nations, Reuters reports. The ICC has “lost its direction,” Obed Bapela, the South African deputy minister, said after a meeting of the African National Congress (ANC). Many members of the ANC believe the court disproportionately targets African leaders while overlooking violations by the United States and Israel. South Africa foreshadowed its withdrawal earlier this year when it refused to apprehend Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide during a meeting of the African Union (AU) in Johannesburg, despite a court order barring his departure. The move sparked outcry inside and outside the country. “We are not going to use the AU as a platform to arrest leaders,” Bapela said in June, according to the Mail and Guardian, claiming that international criticism of South Africa demonstrated “contempt for the continent.” NGC a curtain raiser to ANC succession battle – analyst Johannesburg - The ANC's National General Council (NGC) this weekend is seen to be the curtain raiser for the succession battle leading up to the 2017 national elective conference. This is despite the party saying it will focus on policy discussions, calling on its members to desist from talking about succession. South Africa's ANC Sheds Members as Disillusionment Mounts

Party membership drops to 769,000 from 1 million in 2012

ANC leader Zuma calls for unity as party readies for elections South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is hemorrhaging members as disillusionment sets in over the party’s failure to fulfill its election promises and contain infighting. The number of signed-up members has fallen to about 769,000 from more than 1 million three years ago, President Jacob Zuma, the ANC’s leader since December 2007, told a party policy forum in Midrand, near Johannesburg on Friday. He accused some ANC officials of blocking new members from joining the party to ensure they retained control of their regions. ANC works to clean house ahead of elections MIDRAND -- The African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday said with the 2016 local government elections slowly approaching it is oiling its election machinery and will go back to communities to “report back on the work the party has done.” It has admitted, however, that internal squabbles are negatively affecting the party with devastating results such as a decline in membership. At the national general council (NGC), being held in Midrand this weekend, party president Jacob Zuma revealed that the organisation has lost more than 400,000 members since its 53rd national conference in 2012. ANC has abandoned its founding principles of the new South Africa - Wilmot James Cape Town - The ANC has abandoned its commitment to the founding principles of the new South Africa and instead had resorted to "bullying, propaganda and hostility to criticism,” according to opposition MP Wilmot James. In a speech to be delivered in Washington DC on the importance of courageous journalism in South Africa on Friday night, the liberal DA politician launches a scathing critique of the country under president Jacob Zuma. “We know that all governments’ default position is to want to hide things, and feel uncomfortable when they are exposed – but the thing about the Zuma government is the monumental volume of things required to be hidden. Its mode of operation has been to embed itself in the state and to develop networks of patronage and corruption on a wide scale to secure its power.”

Sudan

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 70% / 31% Population: 40,313,269

Penetration of population w/ internet 24.0% Labor Force: 11,920,000

GDP per capita USD$ 4,500 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 20% / 2012 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 46.5 / 2005 Congregations:

South Sudan

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration

28% / 12% Population: 11,749,434

Penetration of population w/ internet unkn Labor Force:

GDP per capita USD$ 2,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 12% / 2008 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 50.6% / 2009 Congregations:

Swaziland Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 70% / 11% Population: 1,280,595

Penetration of population w/ internet 23.8% Labor Force: 435,000

GDP per capita USD$ 7,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 49

Unemployment / year est. 28.5% / 2010 Church Members: 1,768

Population below poverty line: 69% Congregations: 4

Tanzania

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 62% / 24% Population: 50,998,619

Penetration of population w/ internet 15% Labor Force: 25,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 61

Unemployment / year est. 10.7% / 2011 Church Members: 1,336

Population below poverty line: 36% / 2002 Congregations: 6

Uganda

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 64% / 11% Population: 40,777,196

Penetration of population w/ internet 16.8 Labor Force: 18,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,800 Life Expectancy: 59

Unemployment / year est. 4.2% / 2010 Church Members: 13,248

Population below poverty line: 25.5% Congregations: 26

Zambia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 73% / 10% Population: 15,549,296

Penetration of population w/ internet 15.4% Labor Force: 6,338,000

GDP per capita USD$ 4,100 Life Expectancy: 58

Unemployment / year est. 15% / 2008 Church Members: 3,359

Population below poverty line: 60.5% Congregations:

Zimbabwe

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 102% / 85% Population: 15,762,551

Penetration of population w/ internet 19.5% Labor Force: 5,0 63,000

GDP per capita USD$ 2,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 60

Unemployment / year est. 95% / 2009 Church Members: 26,156

Population below poverty line: 68% / 2004 Congregations: 64

MDC-T supporter arrested over Mugabe wrong speech taunt BINDURA – An opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporter has been arrested for taunting President Robert Mugabe over the recent embarrassing gaffe during which he read a wrong speech. Mugabe’s nephew gets tough on empowerment Harare - There is a new sheriff in town for South African companies operating in Zimbabwe. He walks with a spring in his step, and admits to enjoying the ministerial honours that come with the new job, such as having the door to his car opened for him. Meet Patrick Zhuwawo, President Robert Mugabe’s nephew and Zimbabwe’s new indigenisation minister. He comes across as the jovial guy next door, at least until he starts talking and raising issues such as being mandated by Mugabe to spearhead economic empowerment at whatever cost. Raising the stakes And for South African companies – Impala Platinum, Aquarius Platinum, Anglo American, as well as Tongaat Hulett and Pick n Pay – the stakes may just have been raised. He is using a carrot-and-stick approach and there is a feeling that he may be out to prove a point to Mugabe: that he is a competent nephew that can be relied upon to deliver, especially as positioning for the succession of his maternal uncle intensifies. Foreign-owned companies are required to cede 51 percent shares into the hands of black Zimbabwean groups. The government is also reversing empowerment deals signed with South African platinum groups in Zimbabwe in the past few years. The empowerment policy has been criticised and blamed for driving away investors in an economy that is in urgent need of capital. Zimbabwe is faced with 1.5 percent economic growth this year amid declining productivity in mining, manufacturing and other key sectors. Zimbabwe: Mugabe Sends Nephew for Demolition Job As he walks into his ministerial boardroom for a press conference, Patrick Zhuwao, the new Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment minister, puts on a confident face. He walks like a king or a new sheriff in town ready to take the black empowerment agenda to another level. Whether the agenda is for economic development or not, to him it does not matter. All that matters is that it's a mandate given to him by his uncle, President Robert Mugabe to execute with diligence. His welcome remarks to the media spoke of a proud and satisfied minister, but his thrust has been widely blamed for the current economic crisis bedevilling the country. Zhuwao says the black empowerment law, which seeks to compel foreign-owned firms to cede 51% of their stake to locals, will be implemented and come 2018, almost all large firms will be indigenised. "A law is a law, we will not negotiate and I have no mandate to change that. Let's be clear. This will be implemented at all cost," he thunders as he announces that firms not willing to comply with the law were in for a high jump. The "new sheriff in town", who seems to be enjoying his newfound station in life, told journalists that he was now living a luxurious ministerial life. Mugabe spokesperson moots new laws to gag Zim media Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson has warned new laws will be brought in to deal with media houses who report on factions within the ruling party, the state-controlled Sunday Mail said. Apparently angered by growing coverage in the private media on intra-party squabbles as the 91-year-old Mugabe gets older, George Charamba insisted there were no factions in Zanu-PF, only "personality clashes”. Backed by often-unnamed sources in Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe's private press is currently focussing on a relatively new power struggle apparently between supporters of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa and those of First Lady Grace Mugabe.

United States Data Provided for comparison

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 102% / 85% Population: 324,343,287

Penetration of population w/ internet 86.8% Labor Force: 156,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 54,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 79

Unemployment / year est. 5.5% / 2015 Church Members: 6,466,267

Population below poverty line: 15.1% / 2010 14,018 Congregations

Travel Advisories/Warnings Chad Travel Warning Saturday, October 03, 2015 U.S. citizens are urged to carefully consider the risks of travel to Chad and, if already in Chad, are encouraged to review their and their families’ personal safety and security plans to determine whether they and their family members should depart. U.S. warns citizens not to travel to Somalia 2 October 2015 The Department of State reiterated its warning to U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Somalia for the second time in a year, describing the situation in the country as “remaining dangerous.” While the Horn of Africa nation continues to recover from over two decades of civil war, the department of state said in a statement released on Thursday that its citizens should avoid all travel to Somalia because of the general threat of violent crime, terrorism, and the targeting of foreigners for murder and kidnappings, particularly by the extremist terrorist group al-Shabaab. Travel Warning: Central African Republic 9/30/2015 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) due to an unpredictable security situation subject to rapid deterioration, activities of armed groups, and violent crime. The border between Chad and CAR is currently closed. Other land border crossings may close at short notice. U.S. citizens who have decided to stay in CAR despite this warning should seriously consider departing. Embassy Bangui cannot provide consular services to U.S. citizens in CAR at this time. This replaces the Travel Warning of May 1, 2015 to reflect the risk of remaining in CAR and continued lack of security. Indiscriminate violence and looting has occurred in CAR since the overthrow of the Government in March 2013. Sectarian violence is frequent and has resulted in thousands of deaths. Despite the creation of a transitional government in January 2014 and the presence of a United Nations stabilization force, the security situation remains highly fragile. Instability has increased as the political transition process unfolds around the upcoming constitutional referendum and elections which were initially scheduled for October 2015.

Cameroon Travel Warning Thursday, October 01, 2015 :: Staff infoZine The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the high risk of traveling to Cameroon, and urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the North and Far North regions of the country because of the general threat of violent crime, terrorism, and the targeting of westerners for murder and kidnappings, particularly by the extremist terrorist group Boko Haram. Washington DC - infoZine - There is also a growing threat in the East Region, where former Seleka and criminal elements from the Central African Republic (CAR) occasionally cross the border of Cameroon to steal property and take hostages for ransom. Because of the security situation in country, the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide consular services in remote and rural areas is extremely limited. This replaces the Travel Warning of August 5, 2015 to emphasize the continuing threat of armed attacks, bombings and kidnappings in the Far North region of Cameroon and Boko Haram’s aspirations to extend the threat to other parts of the country

BURKINA FASO TRAVEL WARNING 21 September 2015 This Travel Warning is being issued to notify U.S. citizens that on September 21, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of eligible family members and non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou. U.S. citizens are urged to carefully consider the risks of travel to Burkina Faso and, if already in Burkina Faso, encouraged to review their and their families’ personal safety and security plans to determine whether they and their family members, should depart. U.S. citizens are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. Citizens who decide to remain in Burkina Faso despite this travel warning should maintain situational awareness at all times and register their presence within Burkina Faso with the Embassy by enrolling in STEP. This Travel Warning supersedes and replaces the Travel Alert issued on September 4, 2015.

State Dept. Issues Sierra Leone Travel Warning, Sept. 17, 2015 Washington, DC--(ENEWSPF)--September 17, 2015. After review of health conditions and limited availability of medical evacuation options, the U.S. Department of State, on August 14, 2014, ordered the departure of eligible family members residing with Embassy staff in Freetown, and issued a Travel Warning advising U.S. citizens against non-essential travel to Sierra Leone. The Embassy recommended this action out of an abundance of caution following the determination that there was a lack of options for urgent health care services at major medical facilities due to the Ebola outbreak. On February 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of State modified the status for accompanying family members to allow only adult eligible family members to accompany the principal employee to Embassy Freetown. US Warns Citizens Against Travel in Chad 14 September 2015 The U.S. State Department is warning its citizens in the African nation of Chad to leave and is cautioning Americans against travel in the area.

Tanzania Travel Alert, Saturday, September 05, 2015 : The State Department alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Tanzania to the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 25, 2015.

US Renews Travel Warning to Cameroon as Boko Haram Targets Americans 10 August 2015

Historical Events in Church History for Countries in the ASEA Area

(and related events) Return to top of News

Country Year Date Historical Event

Zimbabwe 1999 January 1 * 1999: Zimbabwe’s first stake is organized in Harare. The first full edition of the Book of Mormon is published in Shona, a native language of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe 1980 February 1 Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe

Swazliand 1990 February 21 In what has been termed a continuation of events in the "dawning of a new day in Africa," Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve dedicated two African kingdoms to the work of the Lord and for the preaching of the gospel. Swaziland, an independent mountain kingdom bordered on three sides by South Africa and by Mozambique on its eastern side, was dedicated Feb. 21. Lesotho, a kingdom surrounded by South Africa, was dedicated Feb. 22.

Lesotho 1990 February 22 In what has been termed a continuation of events in the "dawning of a new day in Africa," Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve dedicated two African kingdoms to the work of the Lord and for the preaching of the gospel. Swaziland, an independent mountain kingdom bordered on three sides by South Africa and by Mozambique on its eastern side, was dedicated Feb. 21. Lesotho, a kingdom surrounded by South Africa, was dedicated Feb. 22.

Zimbabwe 2013 APRIL 1 2013: Edward Dube is called to the First Quorum of the Seventy, making him the first General Authority from Zimbabwe.

South Africa

1853 April 19 When the first LDS missionaries arrived in Cape Town in 1853, they climbed Lion’s Head (which they called Mount Brigham Heber Willard, in honor of the Church’s First Presidency) and dedicated the land to the growth of the gospel.

Zimbabwe 2009 July 1 2009: Edward Dube becomes the first native mission president to serve in Zimbabwe.

Nigeria 2005 August 7 Aba Nigeria temple dedicated August, 2005

Zambia 1992

August 20 Zambia-On Aug. 20, at a secluded spot on a hill near a lake on university grounds in the capital city of Lusaka, Elder Nelson dedicated the nation of Zambia to the preaching of the gospel. "It was a touching scene," commented Pres. Vern Marble of the neighboring Zimbabwe Harare Mission who was present for the prayer of dedication.

Botswana 1992 August 21 The prayer of dedication on the nation of Botswana was offered by Elder Scott on Aug. 21, in a small clearing in the Gaborone Game Reserve. Nearly 100 people were present, including members and missionaries.

Cameroon 2009 August 21 Elder Holland dedicated the country of Cameroon on August 21, 2009, on a green hillside overlooking Cameroon's capital city of Yaounde in the company of local church leaders. Later in the day, approximately 600 people gathered to hear Elder Holland speak at Yaounde's City Center. http://www.mormonwiki.com/Missionary_Work

Namibia 1992 August 22 In Namibia, on Aug. 22, a small group of members gathered on Tower Hill in Windhoek to witness the dedication of the land by Elder Nelson. Namibia is part of the South Africa Cape Town Mission. Its president, Blaine Hudson, described the gathering as "the Lord's people who in the past years have been faithful in the desert and in the wilderness, and have made it blossom as a rose."

Congo Rep (Brazzaville)

1992 August 24 The nation of Congo was dedicated Aug. 24 by Elder Scott. Elder Nelson briefly addressed the small gathering of members and leaders who gathered in a peaceful setting in a shaded area located on a hillside overlooking treetops about 10 miles down the Congo River from the capital city of Brazzaville. A picturesque Congolese village was visible in the distance beyond the river's rapids. About 65 members and leaders of three branches in Congo attended the dedication.

South Africa

1985 August 24 1985: On August 24–25 the Johannesburg South Africa Temple is dedicated. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/02/south-africa-land-of-good-hope?lang=eng

Rwanda 2009 August 27 Elder Holland dedicated Rwanda on Aug. 27 during a sacred moment on the top of a mountain overlooking the capital city, Kigali. http://www.mormonwiki.com/Missionary_Work

Ethiopia 1993 September 16 The Church was officially recognized in Ethiopia on 16 September 1993.

Burundi 2010 October 19 The chosen dedication spot for the country of Burundi was located on a hill overlooking Bujumbura, the capital city, with Lake Tanganyika shining in the distance beyond. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve pronounced a blessing upon the country of Burundi in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa. Elder Holland offered a blessing on the people and the nation, dedicating the country of Burundi for missionary work on Oct. 19.

Angola 2010 October 20 On Wednesday, Oct. 20, a small group of Church leaders and members gathered at the base of a large, several-hundred-year-old baobab tree on a quiet hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the capital city of Luanda, Angola, to the north, where Elder Christofferson pronounced a blessing upon the country and formally opened Angola to missionary work.

Uganda 1991 October 23 In late October 1991, Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe for the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of the Church. On October 23, Elder Faust, accompanied by Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Seventy, who serves as president of the Africa Area, dedicated Uganda from the capital city, Kampala. Earlier this year, Uganda granted the Church official status. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/02/news-of-the-church/uganda-kenya-zimbabwe-dedicated?lang=eng

Kenya 1991 October 24 The next day, October 24, Elder Faust, Elder Lindsay, and President Larry Brown of the Kenya Nairobi Mission traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, where more than one hundred Church members gathered for the outdoor service. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/02/news-of-the-church/uganda-kenya-zimbabwe-dedicated?lang=eng In the dedicatory prayer, Elder Faust said, “We acknowledge this as a blessed land.” The prayer contained references to Kenya’s beauty, grandeur, and abundant plant and animal life. Elder Faust asked that “the beasts of the earth, which have historically been native to this land, may continue to find a home.”

Zambia 1964 October 24 1964: Northern Rhodesia becomes Zambia, and Southern Rhodesia becomes Rhodesia.

Zimbabwe 1991 October 25 1991: On October 25 Elder James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicates Zimbabwe for the preaching of the gospel.

Malawi 1999 October 25 While the first branch of the Church in Malawi was organized in 1999 and there are now about 1,000 members in four branches, the land had not been formally dedicated. Elder Nelson and others met as a small group for that purpose on Oct. 25.

Zimbabwe 1991 October 25 On October 25, Elder Faust and Elder Lindsay met Zimbabwe Harare Mission President Vern Marble for the dedication of Zimbabwe. “Before the meeting, the Saints of Zimbabwe had been fasting and praying for rain,” Elder Lindsay said. “As the dedicatory prayer by Elder

Faust concluded, a gentle rain began to fall, and rainfall increased for days afterward.” In the prayer, Elder Faust asked for a blessing upon the earth of Zimbabwe and prayed that the land would “continue to provide the abundance which it has in the past. … May the rain fall and the streams flow, and the sun kiss the land to provide for thy people.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/02/news-of-the-church/uganda-kenya-zimbabwe-dedicated?lang=eng

Central Africa Republic

2012 October 29 On a heavily forested hillside overlooking the capital city of Bangui, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve offered a prayer of dedication and blessing upon the country and people of the Central African Republic. The prayer was offered Monday, October 29, on Gbazabangui hillside overlooking the Ubangi River—a major tributary of the Congo River—a few degrees north of the equator that is the original site of the Bangui people. https://www.lds.org/church/news/elder-holland-dedicates-central-african-republic?lang=eng

Gabon 2013 November 5 On November 5, 2013, eleven days after the Church received full legal status in the Central African country of Gabon, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles performed a powerful and significant country dedicatory prayer in a forest clearing at the base of a tall tree. He was accompanied by his wife, Susan K. Bednar, and local leaders: Elder Carl B. Cook of the Africa Southeast Area Presidency and his wife, Sister Lynette H. Cook; President W. Bryce Cook, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission, and his wife, Sister Karol Cook; and President Armand Mpandou, president of the Libreville Gabon Branch.

Tanzania 2003 November 18 The East African nation of Tanzania was blessed and dedicated Nov. 18 by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Nelson, who was accompanied by his wife, Sister Dantzel Nelson, gathered for the occasion on a sunny afternoon with some 15 members and Church leaders on a promontory overlooking Oyster Bay on the Indian Ocean, near the capital city of Dar es Salaam. http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/44749/Gospel-takes-root-in-Tanzania.html

Mauritius 1988 November 22 The islands of Mauritius and Réunion, in the Mascarene Islands Mission, were dedicated late in 1988 for the preaching of the gospel. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/03/news-of-the-church/mauritius-runion-dedicated-for-missionary-work?lang=eng Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Council of the Twelve dedicated the two islands, located off the southeast coast of Africa. He visited Mauritius, an independent nation of 1.1 million, on November 22, and Réunion, an overseas departmént of France with a population of 500,000, on November 23.

Reunion 1988 November 23 The islands of Mauritius and Réunion, in the Mascarene Islands Mission, were dedicated late in 1988 for the preaching of the gospel. Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Council of the Twelve dedicated the two islands, located off the southeast coast of Africa. He visited Mauritius, an independent nation of 1.1 million, on November 22, and Réunion, an overseas departmént of France with a population of 500,000, on November 23. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/03/news-of-the-church/mauritius-runion-dedicated-for-missionary-work?lang=eng

South Africa

1973 December 1 In 1973, President Spencer W. Kimball rededicated South Africa “to the preaching of the gospel … to the transformation of lives.” Among the many blessings pronounced by this prophet of God, none was more thrilling than his request that “processes might converge to bring a temple to this land” and that “no hungry or thirsty soul may ever miss the privilege of hearing and accepting the truth.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/02/south-africa-land-of-good-hope?lang=eng

Sources of information:

All church membership information is provided by Mormon Newsroom by clicking on the ‘Africa’ continent on the map (at the right) and then finding the desired country on the list. The information is reviewed from the list each month for correctness.

All keywords and country information is collected from an Internet scan of about 60 specific keywords that is supplied to me at 0300 each morning via Google alerts. This keyword list is reviewed and updated daily.

All Population data are from Country Meters and is updated each month for correctness.

All Cellphone and smartphone data are from GMSA Intelligence and is updated each month for correctness.

All Internet users by country data are from Internet Live Stats and Internet World Stats is reviewed each month for correctness.

GNI (Gross National Income per capita) and Life Expectancy data is from The World Bank

Unemployment and other data are from Photius , IECONOMICS, Quandl, Wikipedia, Theodora & The World Factbook.

Elder Berg Elder Berg & Sister Berg Africa Southeast AreaAssistant Directors of Public Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Email: ASEAPublicAffairs@ldschurch.org Cellphone……. +27 (0)83 443 3829 Office…………... +27 (0)11 645 1538

7 ASEA Newsrooms pages Angola Mormon Newsroom

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Kenya Mormon Newsroom

Indian Ocean Newsroom

South Africa Mormon Newsroom

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