Trump’s Intervention: God’s sovereignty and Africa’s Shame

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Paul Schlehlein

— Brino Kumwenda

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Christians in Northern Nigeria have been facing perennial persecution. According to a report by Intersociety, over 52,000 Christians have been murdered and 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools have been attacked by Islamist militants in the last 14 years. In 2025, Donald Trump, the president of the most powerful nation on earth, the USA, threatened to deal with the jihadists if they did not stop killing Christians.

On Christmas day in 2025, Africa woke up to the news from Donald Trump on Truth Social “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!…”

How should Christians in Africa react to Trump’s intervention in Nigeria? In this article, I propose two reactions.

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Can a Christian Vote for the DA?

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Evan Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

On 13 October 2025, the Democratic Alliance, also known as the DA, participated in the “Joburg Pride” march, celebrating what the DA’s Rainbow Alliance called “the beauty, resilience, and strength of Africa’s LGBTQIA+ community”.

The largest party in South Africa is the ANC, whose policies and actions have brought South Africa to its knees. The party most known for resisting the ANC in ways that have achieved practical results for the good of South Africa is the DA. The DA stands for the free market and against the ANC’s hyper-racial and socialist policies.

However, the DA does not oppose abortion, allowing the murder of innocents to continue unabated. It proudly supports homosexual relationships in every form, contributing to the breakdown of the families which form the bedrock of society. Scripture clearly describes these positions (also endorsed by the ANC) as bringing God’s judgment on a nation. The DA government in Cape Town also distinguished itself in the Covid-19 era by stringently enforcing “lockdown” measures.

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Dissecting Democracy: Is the ‘Right’ to Choose Right?

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Mark Christopher

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Reflecting on South Africa’s elections three months ago, I am reminded of how much we hear the word “democracy” in South Africa. The preamble of the South African Constitution includes the clause that says South Africa will be “a society based on democratic values.” The real question for Christians is, how biblical is democracy? Winston Churchill famously said, “Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”

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A Biblical Guide to Voting

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– David de Bruyn

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

This year sees a number of crucial elections around the world: Taiwan, Pakistan, Russia, the United States, and South Africa among others. All in all, at least 64 countries will vote for government, including 18 African countries.

When Christians vote, they are exercising a right given to citizens of a democratic state: they are requesting certain persons to be their government. And since Christians answer to God first, their vote must represent a request for a government that obeys God’s mandate for human government.

The Bible lays certain obligations on all human governments. Any political party that refuses or neglects to do these things is disobeying God, and a vote to support them is essentially a Christian ignoring his or her Father’s explicit will for human government.

So what does God expect from human government?

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A Guide to Government and Godliness

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Jonathan Klimek

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

A Guide to Government and Godliness

This year in South Africa the National Elections will take place on the 29th of May. You may ask: “How does God view elections? Should we vote? Which party do we choose—the “lesser of many evils”?

It is important that we as Christians consider our role within the political sphere of our Country. Our faith is not confined to the pews of our church; rather, it should infiltrate every facet of our lives, including our engagement with our Country and its politics.

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Biblical Food For Thought Before Voting

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Mark Christopher

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Because it is an election year here in South Africa, I am reminded of the humorous definition of “politics”. It is a compound word from poly meaning “many” and tics — “blood-sucking creatures”. And while there may be some truth in this, Christians have an awesome responsibility to vote according to Christian principles derived from God’s word. Sadly, too many people vote according to their wallet, blindly based on past history, or they vote based on what they think the government will give them materially. Some vote out of blind devotion to their favourite political party regardless of the values that the party represents. And then there are those who vote based on an informed decision.

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Responding to Cancel Culture

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

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The Egyptian pyramids have yet to be cancelled. If Cancel Culture has its way, the Great Sphinx may be next.

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians believed Pharaoh was a living god. The people spent centuries making elaborate tombs to comfort their king in the afterlife. Architects used millions of limestone blocks to construct the massive pyramids. Khufu’s Great Pyramid alone contains 2.3 million blocks of stone, each piece weighing more than a ton. The Great Pyramid stands as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and remained the tallest structure in the world for 38 centuries.

Ramses II, father of more than fifty sons and Pharaoh of Egypt for sixty-seven years, inscribed these words on his throne: “I am [Ramses II], King of Kings. If anyone would seek to know how great I am and where I lie, let him surpass one of my works.”

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Our Dire Debt Dilemma

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Mark Christopher

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Proverbs 22:7 declares the following truism: “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” This truism extends to individuals and governments alike. Last week’s mid-term budget speech on November 1^st by the minister of finance was a good reminder of the peril of falling prey to the pernicious consequences of the debt cycle whereby more is spent than one has money for.

Over the last several years, the South African government has continued to spend far more than it collects in annual tax revenue. This has snowballed with government having to borrow money it doesn’t have to make up for the annual shortfalls. This money is borrowed from various global financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The South African government is now nearly 5 trillion rands in debt and growing annually. Since the budget speech in February of this year, the debt has grown by another 250 billion rands. This means that every man, woman, and child in South Africa owes 83,333.00 rands per person (calculated by 60 million people).

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Is Israel Guilty of Apartheid?

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

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Apartheid is an Afrikaans word meaning separation. It refers to a system of segregation based on race, popularized by the white South African government from 1948 to 1994. Though South Africa officially abolished apartheid nearly 30 years ago, many outside the country may be surprised to know that the word “apartheid” is still plastered on countless billboards throughout the largest cities in the land.

But these billboards are not opposing old national grievances. How could they? Today’s blacks dominate South Africa’s population, Parliament, and police.

These signs refer to the supposed Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. Sample signs in South Africa read: “Do the Right Thing. Boycott Apartheid Israel.” Or, “Churches Against Israeli Annexation of Palestinian Land.” Or, “End Israeli Apartheid Now.” Organizations and political party logos emboss these billboards, including the anti-Israel group Africa4Palestine, as well as the ruling party of the ANC, and the SACP—the South African Communist Party.

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Death Penalty Disappearing in Africa

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– David de Bruyn

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In July of 2023, Ghana’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty. Africa still has 30 countries that have the death sentence in their legal system, though it is rarely used in over half of these. Fourteen countries in Africa regularly use the death penalty: Nigeria, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. In 26 African countries, capital punishment has been removed from the law books.

Amnesty International reported that in sub-Saharan countries, there has been a 67% drop in capital punishment in the last three years. Egypt remains the leading practitioner of capital punishment in Africa.

Modern secular political wisdom asserts that the death penalty is a barbaric relic from the past. This wisdom believes in something known as rehabilitationism. In this scheme, justice primarily seeks to reform, not punish. Since the death penalty does not reform anyone, proponents of this theory assert that it should be abolished.

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‘National Day of Prayer’ – True Piety or Tactful Politics?

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Chipita Sibale

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According to the 1996 Constitution, Zambia is officially a Christian nation, with 75% of the population having a Protestant attachment and 20% being Roman Catholic. This strong affiliation to Christianity has seen many declarations from political leaders. One such call is that of a “National Day of Prayer.” This holiday was established in Zambia in 2015 by former President Edgar Lungu. It has since become a national event and holiday, falling on the 18th of October.

It offers an opportunity for individuals, families, and communities to take some extra time to reflect and pray. In order to observe the National Day of Prayer, fasting, repentance, and reconciliation in a reverential manner, all activities of an entertainment nature are postponed. At the same time, bars and food outlets remain closed between 6 AM to 6 PM.

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A Foreign Politician Gives Hope to South Africa’s ANC

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

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In September 2023, at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington D.C, Congressman John James examined the current status of the United States/South Africa relationship. His speech shows that American officials are keenly aware of some of South Africa’s disastrous policies.

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TARIF: Zimbabwe and the Biblical Basis for Free Elections

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Tuesday, August 29^th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

Zimbabwe and the Biblical Basis for Free Elections

Recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe have once again been encumbered by accusations of blatant and gigantic fraud. The official polls have declared Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner, making him president for another five years. This will be his second term in office.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe’s Information Ministry stated the following: “The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced the 2023 presidential election results. His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner with 2,350,711 votes, consisting of 52.6% of the vote, followed by Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party who scored 1,906,734, which is 44% of the vote.”

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TARIF: National Leaders and Lifelong Terms – Senegal’s Macky Sall

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Tuesday, July 11th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by David de Bruyn and presented by Yamikani Katunga

Macky Sall not running for third term as president

The president of Senegal, Macky Sall, has announced he will not seek a third term as president. Senegal’s constitution was changed during Sall’s first term, to ensure that no

president could serve for longer than two terms. Even though Sall’s recent tenure has been marred by unrest and the jailing of an opposition leader, his decision to step down after two terms is to be commended. Senegal is respected as a relatively peaceful and stable country within the turmoil of West Africa, where military coups and power grabs are not unknown.

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