Roman Catholic bishops in Africa and Madagascar under the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) have called on foreign nations to join hands with African leaders in their efforts to curtail insecurity ravaging the continent.
Goldennewsng reports that the Catholic bishops also lamented what they described as the irregular migration of African youths from the continent as a result of the bad economic policies of the continent’s leaders.
The clergies resolutions were reached after the 19th Assembly Plenary of the episcopal body held recently in Accra, Ghana.
The resolution was made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Most Rev Felix Ajakaye, on Thursday.
The clerics stated that socio-political instability, violence, poverty, weak health structures, insurgency and exploitation of religion for political ends by African political leaders were responsible for terrorism and other security challenges in the continent.
A part of the statement read: “Several regions of our continent are experiencing insecurity due to socio-political instability, violence, poverty, weak health structures, insurgency, terrorism, exploitation of religion for political purposes, and lack of respect for the environment and good governance.
“These situations are causes of anxiety for our people. This is why we are sending a message to all people of goodwill to help put an end to them.”
The clerics called on African political leaders to brace up and make decisions that would put in check the migration of the continent’s youths to other parts of the world.
“The social and political stakeholders, as well as decision-makers, have a heavy responsibility in the management of our countries. We urge them to continue to do their utmost to fight insecurity for our people and Africa.
“We also urge foreign forces to get involved in fighting this insecurity and in building lasting peace and security on the African continent.”
The clerics added: “We urge leaders and decision makers to put in place structures and conditions that will discourage irregular migration, especially promoting good governance, social justice, social inclusion employment opportunities, and fighting insecurity.
“To all intending migrants, especially young people who seek to exercise their rights to migrate, we urge you to do so in a manner that is administratively acceptable. We urge you not to lose hope for a better future.
“We wish to express our pains in seeing our youth leaving our countries, knowing that they are going to suffer and possibly lose their lives and we lament our inability to stop them from leaving”.
