SECAM: Church in Africa Concerned of Conflict and Exploitation of Natural Resources
His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, March 6, 2024, in Accra, Ghana
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in their three-day meeting in Accra Ghana, have condemned exploitation of mineral and natural resources in most African countries that instigate conflict among the people.
In a statement to the media after the event that brought together bishops, priests, and lay Catholics from diverse regions of Africa and beyond to deliberate upon the critical nexus between natural resource exploitation and conflicts within the African continent, the officials noted that “challenges associated with mining and natural resource exploitation on the continent were identified.
The participants recalled Pope Francis’ message during his apostolic visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan last year when he said, “Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa: it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered…”
In the statement signed by the General Secretary of SECAM Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, the SECAM President His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo has been quoted to have highlighted circumstances where significant foreign investments in oil, gas, mining, and natural resources “fail to adequately benefit the local populations of the continent.”
Cardinal Ambongo who is the Archbishop of Kinshasa and a member of the Order of Friar Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) stressed the urgent need for the Church in Africa “to adopt a pastoral approach to integral ecology and ecological conversion informed by its social doctrine, particularly concerning extractive industries.”
The Monday, March 11 statement has highlighted that participants analysed various situations affecting the continent and formulated actionable proposals aimed at fostering a better future for believers of all denominations, religious communities, and the populace at large including establishment of a continental Day of prayer.
“Noteworthy among these proposals is the advocacy for the establishment of a continental Day of prayer and solidarity in Africa to spotlight specific issues in individual countries and amplify the voices of the marginalized,” reads part of the Monday statement as it continues, “Additionally, there is a call for enhanced education on integral ecology, as well as increased involvement of legal and media professionals in monitoring natural resource exploitation and advocacy efforts.”
The SECAM officials noted that the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (PIHD) who were also participants in the 8th to 111th seminar, “Urged the Church in Africa to bolster its commitment to addressing issues that perpetuate immense suffering, such as conflicts and forced displacements of populations.”
They noted that the main concern of the seminar “is to ensure that Africa’s abundant resources contribute to economic development, benefit the majority of its populace, foster peace, and alleviate poverty.”
Besides the discourses on exploitation of mining and other natural resources in Africa, the 40 participants also discussed pertinent topics including, “theological reflections, legal frameworks, and regulations, the Church’s commitment in this domain, advocacy initiatives, as well as strategies for future endeavours aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with these situations, particularly conflicts and their ramifications stemming from the exploitation of natural resources.”
This seminar was convened by SECAM in collaboration with the support of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Misereor, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Mosaiko Institute for Citizenship, Centre d’Etudes pour l’Action Sociale (CEPAS), Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DPHI), Catholic Peacebuilding Network of Notre Dame University.
