Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) -The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Assandé Darius Ekou, until now rector of the parish-sanctuary Saint Famille de Nazareth and director of the Saint Kizito d’Abengourou diocesan Centre, as bishop of the diocese of Agboville, Cote d’Ivoire.
Msgr. Assandé Darius Ekou was born on 27 April 1968 in Bongouanou, in the diocese of Abengourou. He studied philosophy and theology at the Saint Cœur de Marie Major Seminary in Anyama.
He was ordained a priest on 7 September 1996.
After ordination, he first served as vicar at the Cathedral of Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus in Abengourou (1996-1998), head of the quasi-parish Saint Bernadette d’Ebilassokro (1998-2001), and vicar of Sacré Cœur in Koun-Abronso (2001-2001). He studied for a doctorate in the social doctrine of the Church at the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome (2002-2009), and provided pastoral service at the parish of San Lorenzo Martire in Formello (diocese of Civita Castellana) and at the Abbey Sanctuary of Montevergine (diocese of Avellino) (2002-2009), secretary of the Curia of Abengourou (2009-2010), parish priest of Sacré Cœur in Arrah (2010-2011), parish priest of Notre Dame de la Paix in Abengourou-Plateau (2011-2014), parish priest of Christ Roi in Abengourou (2014), episcopal vicar for the Sector of Moronou and the Central Sector of Abengourou, director of diocesan Catholic Works and diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (2011-2014), professor (2011-2014) and rector (2014-2025) of the Grande Séminaire Notre Dame de Guessihio-Gagnoa, rector of the parish-sanctuary of Sainte Famille de Nazareth and director of the Saint Kizito diocesan centre of Abengourou (since 2025).
Within the Episcopal Conference of Cote d’Ivoire, he is a member of the Commission for the Clergy, Seminaries and vocational pastoral care. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 27/2/2026)
