Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides News Agency) – On April 30, 2026, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), has appointed Father Cyprien Diarra, of the Diocese of Ségou, as Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Mali, for a five-year term (2026-2031).
The new PMS Director in Mali was born in 1970 in Béléko Diawarela. He completed his schooling Béléko and Niono (1976-1986), and subsequently, from 1986 to 1989, he trained in metalwork at the Father Michel Center (CPM) with the Salesians in Bamako.
From September 1989 to August 1992, he worked for Air Liquide in Mali, "Maligaz," and was active in the Young Christian Workers movement.
From October 1992 to June 1996, he studied at the Minor Seminary in Dapaong, Togo; subsequently, from October 1996 to June 2003, he continued his formation at the St. Augustine Major Seminary in Samaya. From September 2003 to August 2005, he served as secretary in the Diocese of Ségou. Ordained a priest in 2004, Father Diarra served as vicar at the Ségou Cathedral Parish from September 2005 to August 2009, coordinating the Holy Childhood ministry, vocations, catechesis, and radio broadcasts. From September 2009 to July 2010, he also served as administrator of the Ségou Cathedral parish. In September 2010, he moved to Rome to study and obtain a licentiate in spiritual theology at the Teresianum University, where he remained until 2012. From January to June 2013, he completed a formation course for spiritual directors at the Jesuit Spiritual Center of Le Châtelard in Lyon, France. From September 2013 to July 2019, he served as vicar at Our Lady of the Sahel Parish in Niono, with various responsibilities: head of the diocesan twinning commission, member of the diocesan formation commission, head of parish youth, coordinator of the radio program, coordinator of catechesis, and head of finances and the parish secretariat. From August 2019 to August 2020, he took a sabbatical year and retreated to a monastery in Guinea, also dedicating himself to Islamic studies at the IFIC in Bamako. Subsequently, in July and August 2021, he completed an ICOF refresher course in Abidjan. Since September 2020, he has been the parish priest of St. Peter Claver in Fana. From June 2021 to June 2024, he served as general secretary of the Diocesan Union of Priests of Ségou. He is currently the diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and the diocesan coordinator for twinning and missionary cooperation. (EG) (Fides News Agency, 17/6/2026)
