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, 13 February 2026, at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The agreement will be signed on behalf of SECAM by Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM, and on behalf of the AU by Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
The renewed MOU comes a decade after the first agreement was concluded on 19 August 2015 at the AU Commission. It aligns with updated AU institutional frameworks and aims to reinforce structured collaboration between the continental body and faith-based partners.
According to the parties, the agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation in promoting and protecting human and peoples’ rights, advancing good governance, democracy and the rule of law, and enhancing peacebuilding, reconciliation and social cohesion across Africa.
The MOU also outlines joint efforts to address humanitarian crises, protect displaced persons and vulnerable populations, respond to climate change through sustainable natural resource management, and promote integral human development in line with the AU’s flagship development blueprint, Agenda 2063.
The signing follows a high-level side event hosted by SECAM in partnership with the AU on water sustainability and sanitation on 7 February 2026 in Addis Ababa, which convened continental and international stakeholders, including representatives of the Holy See.
It will also take place just ahead of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union scheduled for 14–15 February 2026.
The renewed partnership underscores a shared commitment to multilateral cooperation and the principle of African solutions to African problems, rooted in solidarity, shared responsibility and a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
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