Catholic bishop in Angola decries child abduction, exploitation risks in border region

Bishop Vicente Carlos Kiaziku of the Diocese of Mbanza Congo warned that children being abducted in Angola's Zaire province face severe risks of exploitation. During a Mass at Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral on Sept. 27, Kiaziku stated that minors taken across the border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become victims of organ trafficking, prostitution, and modern slavery.

Kiaziku urged families, government authorities, and the local community to share the responsibility of protecting children. He noted that preventing abduction and trafficking is a collective duty, particularly for those living in the region bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The bishop called for increased vigilance to protect children living in situations of abandonment and to ensure their safety and dignity.