Cabo Delgado: Bishop of Pemba Calls for Dialogue and Shared Responsibility to Address Insecurity • 360 Mozambique

The local ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Pemba, in Mozambique, called for collaboration between the state, the Church, and society to address the insecurity that persists in Cabo Delgado province, stating that lasting peace requires dialogue, shared responsibility, and responses that go beyond military operations, the the ACI Africa news portal reported on Thursday, July 16.

According to the outlet, speaking to journalists after a meeting with the newly appointed Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado Province, Plácido Pereira, on Wednesday (July 15), Bishop António Juliasse Sandramo said the meeting reflected a shared desire to work together for the well-being of communities affected by years of conflict.

“The visit is a positive sign of institutional openness and a willingness to strengthen collaboration between the Catholic Church and the state for the benefit of the population,” he said.

Highlighting the urgency of addressing insecurity in the northern province of Mozambique, the Catholic bishop emphasized that peace can only be achieved through the collective effort of all sectors of society.

“The issue of security remains a concern for all of us. Peace will only be possible when there is a serious commitment from all sectors of society to address this challenge,” he said.

The local bishop of the Diocese of Pemba emphasized that dialogue remains “an indispensable tool” for creating the conditions necessary to end the violence that, he said, has been affecting the province for several years.

António Juliasse welcomed the dialogue initiatives promoted by the government, expressing hope that these initiatives could contribute to a sustainable resolution of the conflict.

“The openness shown by the President of the Republic toward dialogue gives us hope that paths to lasting peace can be found. But this goal requires the responsible involvement of everyone,” stated the president of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM).

Church Reaffirms Commitment to Humanitarian Aid and Reconciliation

The bishop reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to supporting the victims of the insurgency through pastoral and humanitarian aid, while simultaneously promoting reconciliation among divided communities.

“The Catholic Church will continue to fulfill its mission of standing in solidarity with those affected by the conflict, promoting pastoral and humanitarian initiatives that foster reconciliation, human dignity, and greater trust among communities,” he said.

Secretary of State Calls for Greater Interfaith Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism

The meeting also served as the formal introduction of the new Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado Province, Plácido Pereira. According to the official, the visit aimed to reaffirm the government’s commitment to maintaining close institutional ties with the Catholic Church, in recognition of its contribution to human development and peacebuilding.

Plácido Pereira argued that efforts to end terrorism in Cabo Delgado must also involve greater interfaith cooperation.

“We have already begun a process of dialogue with different religious denominations to better understand the causes and motivations of terrorism. By understanding these realities, we believe it will be possible to find more effective solutions to end the conflict,” he said.

The Secretary of State added that “information sharing between public institutions and religious organizations is an important element in addressing the concerns of local communities, especially in the areas most affected by insecurity.”