The area is the fault line between Islamic Africa to the north and predominantly Christian Africa to the south.

Open Doors, the Christian freedom charity say general violence has increased because of a mix of poverty, unemployment, corruption and lack of governance.

However, for Christians, they have seen increasing Islamic extremism in the area as it becomes a hotspot for Islamic militant groups, some being home-grown and others being part of international terror organisations like IS and Al-Qaeda, as members often settle in states along the Sahel when they are driven out of the Middle East.

Open Doors say these ideologies are gaining popularity because they come with the provision of goods and services which the state has failed to provide and they are promising a new political order free from corruption.

Almost 30 violent Islamist groups are known to be active in the region with most committing attacks in more than one country. For example, Boko Haram has spread out from north Nigeria, across Lake Chad and into other countries.

Their ideology has infiltrated numerous splinter groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province, a group which broke away from Nigeria’s Boko Haram and targets and enslaves Christian women and girls.

At least six churches in the DRC have been burned down and two church-run clinics and health centres have been destroyed. In Mali,…

Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC) Nation will giving away up to £100,000 to young entrepreneurs looking to start a business, to encourage more commerce to poor areas and invest in future generations.

SPAC Nation will hold its second entrepreneurs service this Sunday, building on its success from last year which saw £30,000 invested into the projects of young entrepreneurs.

This year, the initiative, which is funded by church donors, will be offering over triple the amount in investment funds.

SPAC service organiser, Pastor Henry, told Premier the project is a great way to serve their local community: “Areas which are the most economically deprived have greater crime rates and so this cash injection into businesses creates more jobs, creates opportunities, helps current businesses thrive and grow and then this eradicates poverty.

“It’s our way of contributing back to society and our local communities.” He added.

Speaking about the upcoming event, SPAC Nation Senior, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega said: “This Sunday, many young people’s lives are going to change forever for the better.”

He added: “Very generous church members have pulled together from their own pockets. At SPAC Nation we’re big fans of enterprise and we know how it can change the lives of young people. That’s why we believe in helping their entrepreneurial dreams come true.”

Pastor Henry is…

Thomas Orchard, 32, died in hospital seven days after being arrested and taken to Heavitree Road police station in Exeter, Devon, in October 2012.

During his detention, the man who had mental health issues was restrained and an emergency response belt (ERB) was placed across his face for five minutes and two seconds to prevent spitting or biting.

Devon and Cornwall Police held misconduct proceedings against Sergeant Jan Kingshott, who was the custody sergeant when Mr Orchard was taken to Heavitree Road police station; and Sergeant Alexander Kennedy, Pc Rob Dodd, and Pc Mark Nagle who were involved in his detention and restraint.

The panel, which was chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Ben Snuggs, of Hampshire Police, concluded the four officers could not have a fair hearing because the panel had “no confidence” in the disclosure process; the delay had caused “irredeemable prejudice”; and in respect of three of the officers, there had been a departure from the regulatory framework such that the officers could not have a fair hearing.

In a landmark conviction in 2018, the office of the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police pleaded guilty to breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

A judge at Bristol Crown Court ruled he could not be sure that the ERB, a tough webbing belt designed to restrain limbs, was a contributory factor in Mr Orchard’s death.

He fined the force £234,500 and ordered it to pay £20,515 in prosecution costs.

At that time,…