{"id":55086,"date":"2025-08-01T10:24:44","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T10:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/premier-nsengiyumva-urges-stronger-church-state-partnerships-for-peace-and\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T13:01:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T13:01:41","slug":"premier-nsengiyumva-urges-stronger-church-state-partnerships-for-peace-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/premier-nsengiyumva-urges-stronger-church-state-partnerships-for-peace-and\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier Nsengiyumva urges stronger Church\u2013State partnerships for peace and transformation in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

He emphasized that neither governments nor faith-based institutions can address Africa\u2019s pressing challenges alone \u2014 a principled partnership is required, rooted in \u201cintegrity, mutual respect, and a shared vision for justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister made these remarks on July 31, 2025, during the official opening of the 20th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), held in Kigali. <\/p>\n

Speaking on behalf of President Paul Kagame, Dr. Nsengiyumva welcomed church leaders and partners from across Africa, calling their presence in Rwanda \u201ca sign of solidarity and a powerful message of shared commitment to the values of hope, reconciliation, and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis theme \u2014 Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace \u2014 is deeply relevant not only to Rwanda\u2019s journey, but to Africa\u2019s broader transformation,\u201d he said. \u201cIt echoes the complex but determined path we have taken to rebuild our country after the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.\u201d<\/p>\n

He acknowledged the Catholic Church\u2019s vital role in Rwanda\u2019s post-genocide recovery and social development. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church\u2019s contribution to our transformational journey is recognized in the history and lives of our country. In sectors like education, health, and social cohesion, its impact is not only felt \u2014 it is deeply appreciated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Looking beyond Rwanda, Dr. Nsengiyumva challenged SECAM delegates to explore how the Church can continue to play a constructive role in Africa\u2019s future, particularly in conflict resolution, youth empowerment, environmental stewardship, and ethical leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfrica is at a crossroads. The wounds of the past are still healing, and new global pressures are emerging,\u201d he said. \u201cBut within these challenges lies a unique opportunity for renewal. The Church in Africa, as a voice of conscience, has a vital role to play in inspiring ethical leadership, promoting dignity, and reinforcing the moral compass of our nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Nsengiyumva also reaffirmed Rwanda\u2019s readiness to work hand-in-hand with religious institutions to build a more just, peaceful, and inclusive society. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand ready, as a government and as a people, to continue building inclusive partnerships with faith-based actors committed to service, equity, and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Archinbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda praised the growth of the Catholic Church in Rwanda despite the devastating impact of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. <\/p>\n

He commended Rwanda for prioritizing national unity and reconciliation in the post-genocide era.<\/p>\n

Cardinal Kambanda also expressed deep gratitude to President Kagame for his leadership and political will to support unity and reconciliation, highlighting the Church\u2019s own contribution to this journey.<\/p>\n

He added that Rwanda serves as a significant example from which the rest of the world can learn. <\/p>\n

SECAM\u2019s Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine, noted that over the past 20 assemblies, the symposium has played a key role in the growth and mission of the Church in Africa.<\/p>\n

The Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda, Arnaldo Sanchez Catalan, delivered Pope Francis\u2019 message to, highlighting the Vatican\u2019s appreciation for the recent peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitated with support from the United States.<\/p>\n

He stated that the peace deal was a positive political step toward resolving longstanding conflicts.<\/p>\n

Catalan emphasized that this SECAM gathering in Kigali aims to explore how the Catholic Church can actively contribute to peacebuilding, healing, and dialogue across Africa.<\/p>\n

The President of SECAM and Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, applauded Rwanda\u2019s hospitality and stressed that the Catholic Church must enhance its efforts in reconciling communities and promoting unity, encouraging collective action across Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year\u2019s theme resonates strongly in these times of conflict affecting many African countries,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Church in Africa must become a symbol of reconciliation, justice, and peace. We must walk together as a family of God\u2019s children, called to be witnesses, peacemakers, and prophets of hope in a world longing for light.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis assembly is an opportunity to reinforce the internal cohesion of SECAM, encourage dynamic leadership, and deepen synergy between our regional conferences. In everything, we want to walk together as one Church, united in faith, mission, and service,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

The 20th Plenary Assembly of SECAM which opened on Thursday, beginning with a Mass at Regina Pacis Parish in Remera, part of the Archdiocese of Kigali, continues through August 3, 2025. <\/p>\n

After the Mass, the sessions continued at the Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together 13 Cardinals, 100 bishops, over 70 priests, and numerous lay participants to reflect on the Church\u2019s role over the next 25 years. <\/p>\n

The assembly will close with a major youth-attended Mass in Kibeho, a revered Catholic pilgrimage site in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

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Rwanda\u2019s Prime Minister, Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, has called on the Catholic Church in Africa to strengthen its collaboration with governments in advancing peace, reconciliation, and inclusive development on the continent. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2000091836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-55086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000091836,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/whatsapp_image_2025-07-31_at_17.39_52_3_-51839.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000091836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55086"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=55086"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=55086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}