Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, CSN
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has issued a powerful call to prayer and action amidst the ongoing conflicts and exploitation of Africa’s resources.
In a message signed by the members of the Standing Committee of SECAM, the Catholic Church in Africa has urged its faithful and all people of goodwill to unite in prayer and fasting for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
The message, which was issued on February 13, 2025, during the Standing Committee’s meeting in Accra, Ghana, expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflicts in various parts of Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Mozambique, and Sudan.
The SECAM leadership condemned the exploitation of Africa’s resources by powerful nations and multinational corporations, which has led to violence, displacement, and instability. They echoed the words of Pope Francis, who during his visit to the DRC in January 2023, said, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”
The message emphasized the importance of hope and action, urging all believers to dedicate time for prayer and fasting, asking God to bring an end to the war, to comfort the afflicted, and to guide leaders toward justice and reconciliation.
To this end, SECAM has invited every diocese, parish, and religious community in Africa to unite in a triduum of prayer and fasting from March 3rd to 5th, 2025.
The Catholic Church in Africa has committed to strengthening the structures of communion and ensuring that the Church remains a voice of truth, justice, and hope in society.
The message concluded by entrusting the continent of Africa to the maternal care of Our Lady of Africa and invoking God’s blessings upon all.
As the Catholic Church in Africa unites in prayer and action, they remain hopeful that God will grant peace to Eastern Congo and all other regions suffering from conflict.
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