World

Pope hits out at trafficking in Africa

November 26, 2015 5:22 pm

Pope Francis says that the illegal trade in ivory and diamonds fuels conflict and could destroy Africa’s environment.

Speaking on the second day of his visit to Kenya the Pope linked trafficking to “organised crime and terrorism”.

He also warned world leaders not to let special interests prevail over common good in next week’s climate talks.

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The Pope earlier addressed a Mass in Nairobi where he urged people to create a “just” and “inclusive” society.

He turned his attention to environmental issues when he was talking at the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme in the Kenyan capital.

But that was being threatened, by “human selfishness of every type” as people’s poverty was being exploited to push them into the illegal trade of diamonds, rare metals, timber and ivory, he said.