Mali priest warns of Islamist gains
CWN – September 04, 2012
The secretary of the Mali’s episcopal conference warns of recent Islamist terrorist gains in the West African nation. The strategic city of Douentza, says Father Edmond Dembele, has fallen to the Islamists, and extremists are preaching at some of the mosques in the government-controlled capital of Bamako.
The nation of 14.2 million is 90% Muslim and 2% Catholic. Before the civil conflict began earlier this year, 177 priests in 43 parishes ministered to 342,000 Catholics.
Additional sources for this story: Islamic extremists advance towards the south while they appear radical preachers in Bamako (Fides) www.news.va/en/news/africamali-islamic-extremists-advance-towards-the