Inspired by Rwanda's rapid infrastructure and technological and social development a few years after the tragic events of the genocide, SIGNIS Africa said that it had the belief that a new and better Africa was possible.

These were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a congress held at the St Paul's Centre in Kigali, Rwanda from the 11^th to the 15^th July, 2022 on the theme, "Communication, Synodality and the Church in Africa."

In his keynote address, the President of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) and Bishop of the Oyo Diocese in Nigeria, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo stated that the ongoing Synod on Synodality of the universal Church was a communication project that challenged media practitioners in Africa to devise practical ways of giving voice to those marginalised by some of our church structures as well as those in the broader society.

The delegates were encouraged to see the media as a veritable and viable evangelisation tool, the effective use of which would assist the Church in fulfilling its missionary mandate. They were also enlightened further about the troubling realities of divisiveness on the African continent that has resulted in catastrophic consequences adversely affecting the wellbeing of God's people.

The communique, signed by the re-elected President of SIGNIS Africa, Rev. Fr. Prof. Walter Ihejirika, continued that in the spirit of Synodality, all Catholic communication structures in Africa needed to make it their priority to bring about a more inclusive and participatory Church. This also meant, bringing more women and young people on board our governance structures. It reminded Catholic communicators on the continent that listening at a deeper level to all people without biases was very essential.

Participants at the Congress recommended that all national episcopal conferences adopt the Nigerian and Burkina Faso model of commemorating World Day of Communication for a whole week instead of celebrating it in just one day. They said that the week-long commemoration, spread out in parishes could be used for media education and various awareness creation activities in Church communications.

They also recommended that Catholic communicators in Africa learn more than one international language and cultivate the spirit of networking to help build bridges, encourage sharing of media projects, and ensure efficient engagement in their service to the Church and humanity.

The participants also observed with total disapproval, the unprovoked, incessant and mindless attacks, abductions and killings against defenceless citizens and, in particular, Christians, in many African countries such as Nigeria and Burkina Faso and indeed, the entire Sahel region. They strongly urged African governments to ensure sanity and security and strive to transcend the artificial land boundaries to which the legacies of colonialism have subjected the continent.  They noted that as Africans, we are proud of our identity, celebrate and promote our values, and esteem our dignity as a people of noble heritage adding that “this is a mantra worth promoting in our schools, churches and communities.”

They expressed their gratitude to the host nation, Rwanda, and thanked the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda for their support and encouragement as well as the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, who have, over the years, partnered and accompanied their communication projects by providing the much-needed funding.

The participants also wished the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) success in their forthcoming Assembly in Accra, Ghana and prayed for God's fatherly blessings and guidance upon all his people in Africa and the world.

The following officials were duly elected in a secret ballot for the next term of four years:

President                      -           Rev. Fr. Prof, Walter Ihejirika, Nigeria

Vice President             -           Rev. Fr. Alberto Buque, Mozambique

Secretary General/ Treasurer   -           Rev. Fr. Dieu-Donne Kofi Davor, Ghana

Member (RECOWA region)   -           Rev. Fr. Webb Amouzou, Côte d'Ivoire

Member (AMECEA region)   -           Sr. Adelaide Ndilu, Kenya

Member (ACEAC region)      -           Rev. Fr. Fidele Mutambazi, Rwanda

Member (IMBISA region)       -           Br. Alfonce Kugwa, Zimbabwe

Participants were drawn from various African countries. Also present were Msgr. Janvier Yameogo of the Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City; Fr Dr Paul Samasumo, Vice President, SIGNIS World and a staff member at the Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City and Rev. Fr. Bernardo Suate, a staff member of the Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City and former SIGNIS Services Rome Director, as well as Hon. Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the Minister for Local Administration, Rwanda.