By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, JULY 26, 2022 (CISA) – Bishop Sithemebele Sipuka, the 1st Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has explained the focus of the upcoming plenary in Accra Ghana is security in the region.
“Terrorism is increasing at an alarming rate in Nigeria for example, many people were also killed in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. We are hoping that with this plenary, we are going to get to the bottom of this,” said the bishop in an interview with CISA, in Nairobi, on July 19.
“We have invited people who we think maybe have insight because when you talk, you must know where you’re talking from. You must know your facts. And from there then I hope that we’ll be able to make a deliberation, a recommendation of how we move,” he added.
SECAM, the association of Catholic Bishops of Africa, Madagascar and the Islands, will hold its 19th Plenary Assembly from July 25 to August 1, 2022, in Accra, Ghana, on the theme: “Ownership of SECAM; Security and Migration in Africa and the Islands.”
The plenary will focus mainly on the implications of ownership for its members and the rising cases of conflicts in Africa, which has experienced coups against governments in West Africa, electoral violence, and tribal conflicts in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Bishop Sipuka also explained that the other agenda on the plenary might include how SECAM can effectively “take advantage of our presence in the AU.” The association has observer status at the African Union (AU), a privilege granted to it so that it can participate in the organization’s activities, and is represented by the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel.
