AMECEA: AMECEA Seeks Debt Relief and Global Financial Fairness for Africa
Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
In a one day media workshop organized by the Jubilee 2025 Africa Coalition, the Association of Members Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network Africa, Caritas Africa and Hakimani Center on February 12th 2025 at Radisson Blu hotel in Nairobi- Kenya, joined the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development in launching the Jubilee 2025 Debt Cancellation Campaign for countries in Africa who are in “dire fiscal situation, where debt servicing costs consume over 50% of national revenues”.
In his speech during this workshop of media personnel from various media houses in Kenya themed “Unpacking Africa’s Debt Crisi; Understanding Unjust Debt and Charting a Path to Change”, Bishop Charles Kasonde the chairman of AMECEA, said that the Jubilee Debt Cancellation Campaign calls all African countries to unite in their fight against economic injustice adding that it is not just a financial crisis, it is a crisis of human dignity.
“The Jubilee Debt Cancellation Campaign calls upon us to unite in our fight against economic injustice, this is not just a crisis of human dignity”.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ call for the Jubilee year, the workshop highlighted the Catholic Church’s deep concern over Africa’s debt, demand debt cancellation, global financial reform, and accountability.
Bishop Kasonde, addressing both physical and online participants, called upon them to embrace the spirit of jubilee as a concept in history and moral obligation.
The Local Ordinary of Zambia’s Solwezi Diocese noted that despite the success of the relief secured by the advocacy of the Catholic Church in 2000, African nations are still at the mercy of recurrent debt crisis.
“The jubilee 2000 campaign led to the cancellation of over $100 billion in debt for some of the most indebted nations, freeing resources for vital public services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, yet the relief we secured was not enough to remedy the systematic flaws within the global financial architecture, which continues to leave Africa nations at the mercy of the recurrent debt crisis”, bishop Kasonde said.
The Chairman of AMECEA echoing the words of Pope Francis, pointed out that debt burdens lead to entrench poverty, amplify inequality, and stifle economic growth stressing that debt cancellation does not only transcend mere economic calculus, but it is also a profound moral responsibility.
In his speech, the chairman of AMECEA noted that their mission extends beyond debt cancellation, they are seeking comprehensive global financial reforms aimed at preventing the cycles of debt entrapments that have plagued their nations and advocating for responsible borrowing and lending practices that uphold justice and equity.
He further said that it is time of reshaping financial systems, prioritizing human dignity over corporate profits, the dominance of lender nations, urgently create strategies for recovery, engage in meaningful debt restructuring to lighten the payment burden and seek fairer international borrowing terms that ensure sustainability.
In conclusion he stressed, “let us advocate for comprehensive reforms that uphold our shared humanity, ensuring that future generations are liberated from the shackles of debt and empowered to thrive”.
