May 1996

EDITORIAL

On the road

So, in the media field when you start a new initiative you hold your breath waiting for the response. That is what we did after sending out the first issue of AFRICANEWS.

The reactions so far tell us that we were right.

Since the electronic mail and the World Wide Web make AFRICANEWS accessible everywhere, we have received reactions from literally all over the world. From Costa Rica to Hungary, from the USA to the Philippines and to Austria passing through Iran. An Italian expert in this field, sent a message of congratulation saying that we are breaking a new ground; according to him AFRICANEWS is the first African press service that since its first issue is coming out simultaneously on a hard-copy, and is available by e-mail and in the World Wide Web.

More important for us are the comments and reactions from Africa. The African postal services are notoriously slow and up to now we have received only a few letters, but all of them encouraging.

Now we - the editorial staff together with the correspondents and the partners - are even more determined to continue, to improve, and to make AFRICANEWS a small but effective, competent, fiercely independent service to the African mass media and the cause of justice and peace.

In this issue you will find two articles on Sudan, speaking of lives shattered but also of effort to rebuild and to look forward with hope. The resilience of the Sudanese people against the difficulties of life in the midst of the longest running civil war in Africa (1956 to date, with a break from '72 till '83) does not cease to amaze even the most hardened journalists.

To interview Mary Nyanot, an ex-slave young lady, was a remarkable experience for our staff. The determination and courage she is putting in rebuilding her life is a lesson for everybody.

There are also two articles on Liberia, where the peace-process has been once more derailed by the power-greedy warlords. Ezekiel Pajibo, a Liberian who works as policy analyst for a coalition of NGOs in Washington puts forwards his perspective and his ideas on how to reach peace.

In Mozambique, writes our correspondent, an European NGO has discovered the spiritual healing power of the African Independent Churches, and is using it for the rehabilitation of child soldiers. It is undoubtedly an innovative approach which pays attention to the positive healing tradition of the African experience.

An article on Human Rights highlights, on the background of the African reality in Nigeria and Kenya, their foundation and their religious roots. Human Rights are becoming a rallying point for all people who have some intrest in the future of Africa.

With more features you will find also two new sections: Clippings and Action and Contacts. In the former there are short news which generally does not go beyond the boundaries of their country of origin, and yet they are relevant to understand the present trends in Africa. In the latter there are reports on different on-going initiatives and the contacts to get in touch with their promoters.

The Editorial Staff