Excerpt Of The Day: The Democratic Republic Of Congo — The World’s Most Backwards Country?

30 Aug, 2006 by John Hawkins

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“On a continent where belief in black magic and evil spirits is common, witch hunts are nothing new, usually targeting older, unmarried women. But in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there’s a new twist to this ancient inquisition. A majority of those said to be involved in witchcraft and sorcery are children, and such allegations against them are the No. 1 cause of homelessness among youths.

Of the estimated 25,000 children living on the streets of Kinshasa, the capital, more than 60% had been thrown out of their homes by relatives accusing them of witchcraft, child-welfare advocates say. The practice is so rampant that Congo’s new constitution, adopted in December, includes a provision outlawing allegations of sorcery against children.” — The LA Times