The Regional Commission for Africa (CREA) met on 2 and 3 May at the House of the Interprovincial Novitiate for its first joint meeting with the new General Councillor for Africa, which was elected at the General Chapter in October/November 2024.

The following were present at the meeting: 

Bro. Etienne Mbad SENE, General Councillor for Africa, Chairman

Bro. Paulinus TOH KISAM, Provincial of the African Province of St Augustine

Bro. Hugues ASSOU, Provincial of the African Province of St Richard Pampuri

Bro. Paul Marie TAUFANA, Provincial of the French Province of St John the Baptist

Bro. Henri GBABA, Provincial Secretary of the Province of St Richard Pampuri

Bro. Terrence TITA, Provincial Secretary of the Province of St Augustine

At the beginning of the meeting, Bro. Étienne SENE, new General Councillor and Chairman of the Commission, briefly outlined the basic texts of the Commission, i.e. its statutes and rules of procedure, to enable all members to familiarise themselves better with them. In a fraternal atmosphere characterised by listening and communion, the Brothers then took turns to discuss the overarching issues of the region, ranging from education to governance.

Subsequently, the challenges related to the financing of education in Africa and the functioning of the sub-commissions were discussed.
The Chairman took the opportunity to introduce the participants to the new General Commissions, which were created following the General Chapter in addition to the existing ones. The assembly then proposed names for the coordination areas of the various sub-commissions.

Special attention was paid to the topic of governance on the second day. There was an intensive exchange on the current difficulties in managing our hospitals. The next meetings will focus on the follow-up of the implementation of the resolutions of this first meeting in the light of the guidelines of the 70th General Chapter of our Order.