The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) have insisted that what Africa needs is justice and not charity, as has been the case.
In a joint statement ahead of the European Union Ministers conference set for May 21, in Brussels, Belgium, the Bishops instead called for partnerships grounded on mutual respect and humanity.
They also called for better care of the ecosystem on the African continent.
“Africa does not need charity; rather, it requires justice and a partnership grounded in mutual respect, environmental stewardship, and the centrality of human dignity,” reads part of the statement.
The two Bishops’ Conferences noted that while they previously believed that Europe and Africa had the potential to strengthen multilateral cooperation, that is no longer the case.
They noted that the once-thought relations have shifted towards narrow geopolitical and economic interests.
“The attention has shifted away from solidarity with the most fragile regions and communities towards a more narrowly defined set of geopolitical and economic interests.
“A return to placing European corporate and strategic aims over the real needs and aspirations of African people.”
The Bishops said this shift turned basic foundations of life – land, water, seeds, and minerals – into commodities only available for profit.
They added that this is done by having the African continent put its ecosystems and communities at risk to support Europe's decarbonisation objectives through land agreements marketed as being part of green energy projects or shifting the burden of industrial agriculture’s toxic inputs and waste to other regions.
The Catholic Church leaders insisted that this cannot be looked at as a partnership, and definitely not justice.
They called for an immediate ban on the export and use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Africa, saying that they need to protect and promote farmer-managed seed systems, which are key to food sovereignty.
This, the Bishops said, is a result of chemicals banned in Europe being exported for sale in Africa.
“This double standard must end.”
“Put dignity of African peoples at the heart of the African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) partnership,” they urged the EU ministers.
