The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the African Union (AU) are set to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the African Union Commission (AUC) Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The renewed agreement will be signed by His Eminence Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM, and H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. This marks a decade since the first MOU was concluded in 2015.
The MOU seeks to deepen cooperation in key areas, including the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights, good governance, democracy, and the rule of law. It also emphasizes peacebuilding, reconciliation, social cohesion, protection of displaced and vulnerable populations, climate resilience through sustainable natural resource management, and holistic human development aligned with Agenda 2063: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens.”
The timing of the signing is symbolic. It comes just days after SECAM partnered with the AU on a high-level side event on Water Sustainability and Sanitation, held on February 7, 2026, and a day before the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, scheduled for February 14–15.
The renewed MOU underscores the Catholic Church’s commitment to contributing to Africa’s development priorities and reflects the belief that strong multilateral collaboration, between governments, international organizations, civil society, and faith-based institutions, is essential for advancing justice, peace, and sustainable development on the continent.
Cardinal Ambongo said the partnership reflects “a shared vision for Africa’s future, rooted in solidarity, shared responsibility, and the principle of African solutions to African problems.”
As the continent faces complex humanitarian, environmental, and governance challenges, the SECAM-AU collaboration signals a renewed commitment to tackling these issues together, combining institutional experience, moral authority, and continental reach to support Africa’s long-term development.
