Cardinal Ambongo Congratulates President Ndayishimiye as African Union Chairperson

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has extended warm congratulations to Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi, following his assumption of office as Chairperson of the African Union.

The Thirty-Nineth (39th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) held  in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 14 and 15 February, saw the election of President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi as new Chair of the Union for the year 2026.

In a formal message, SECAM welcomed President Ndayishimiye’s election as a sign of the confidence placed in his leadership by African Heads of State and Government. The message highlighted his “dedication to peace, reconciliation, inclusive governance, and the dignity of the African people, values that resonate with our continent’s aspirations”.

The message, signed by Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, President of SECAM and Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, expressed strong confidence in President Ndayishimiye’s ability to guide the African Union with wisdom and courage. It also reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s readiness to collaborate with the AU in promoting in peace, social cohesion, ethical leadership, and sustainable development, in line with Pan-African solidarity and the vision of Agenda 2063.

SECAM and the African Union deepened their cooperation

On February 13, 2026, SECAM and the African Union deepened their cooperation by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa. The signing took place on the margins of the 39th African Union Summit scheduled for 14-15 February 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cardinal Ambongo described the renewed partnership as a turning point, building on a 2015 agreement and strengthening collaboration in areas such as human rights, good governance, peacebuilding, economic justice, care for creation, and integral human development. The MoU follows a high-level SECAM–AU side event on water sustainability and sanitation held on 7 February 2026, underscoring a shared commitment to “the Africa we want.”

SECAM Communication’s Office