AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Peace and immigration at the center of the attention of the Bishops of West Africa

Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - There are two main themes at the center of the third Plenary Assembly of the bishops of West Africa (RECOWA-CERAO), recently concluded in Ouagadougou (see Fides, 13/5/2019): "On the one hand, security, today more than ever seriously at risk in our sub-region; on the other the problem of illegal immigration of young people", explained to Agenzia Fides Fr. Donald Zagore, Ivorian theologian of the Society for African Missions (SMA) present at the meeting.
"Our Bishops - he says - prophetically and with force recalled the fundamental commitment of all civil society, religious and political actors, in the construction and consolidation of peace in our sub-region for integral human development".
"To respond to these emergencies, the Bishops announced the establishment of a high-level mediation committee, the COCEP (CERAO Peace Committee), with the mandate to guide the dialogue for peace and reconciliation between the parties in crisis. Another project promoted by the Bishops, and equally fundamental - continues Fr. Zagore - provides for the creation, especially in the dioceses whose borders are subject to migration, of areas of formation, monitoring, exchange and interaction with and among migrants by offering them the necessary means to listening, formation and information. The great challenge for the Church in this context is to be present among these young people and also to overcome the disinformation struggle in order to reawaken consciences".
"Now we are waiting to see our bishops in action" - the missionary concludes, citing an African saying: "We recognize the true bricklayer from the foundations of the wall". (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 22/5/2019)

Share: