Apostolic Nuncio in Burkina Faso to Extend His Representative Role to Niger

He joined the Holy See Diplomatic Service in July 2001. Since then, he has served in the Apostolic Nunciatures of Kenya, Canada, Iraq and Jordan, and in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State at the Vatican.

In 2005, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI named him his Chaplain and granted him the Prelate of Honour of His Holiness in 2014. 

He holds a licentiate in Canon Law and a doctorate in ecclesiastical history, both from Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome. 

The Archbishop is extending his representative role to Niger where reports indicate concerns about the country’s security situation being part of the Sahel region. Diffa, Tillabéry, and Tahoa regions have reported increased displacement of populations. The insecurity has prevented access to humanitarian assistance, according to a report.

It is also a transitory country that has, over the years, experienced an influx of refugees seeking asylum from internal and external extremist groups.

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In a bid to combat the jihadist crisis in the Sahel region, France together with its five Sahel partners in Western Africa among them Burkina Faso agreed, last month, to put their military forces under a single entity dubbed “the Coalition for the Sahel.”

A bill that was unanimously voted for by Niger’s parliamentarians recommending the arming of civilians to help them combat the armed groups is waiting to be signed into law.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.