ACCRA, Ghana — The Catholic Bishops of Africa have called on Mozambican authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso, who was murdered at his episcopal residence in the city of Quelimane.
The statement, issued on Sunday, June 8, 2026, by the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, known as SECAM, expressed what its president called “profound shock, sorrow, and indignation” at the violent death of Afonso, who served as Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira.
The church leaders described the murder of the cleric as a crime against the values of peace, justice, and religious freedom.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and president of SECAM, signed the statement from Accra and characterised the attack as targeting not only a person but the broader principles that underpin peaceful societies.
A Call for Accountability
The bishops’ body demanded that Mozambican authorities conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry, urging that all those found responsible — including direct perpetrators, accomplices, and those who may have orchestrated the killing — face prosecution.
“The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church, and the international community deserve the truth,” the statement read.
The bishops further pressed the Mozambican government to strengthen security measures protecting religious leaders, places of worship, and those engaged in pastoral and humanitarian work across the country.
Condemnation and Condolences
SECAM offered condolences to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Mozambique, the clergy and faithful of both the Diocese of Quelimane and the Archdiocese of Beira, members of Afonso’s religious congregation, and his family.
The statement described Afonso as “a faithful pastor whose life was dedicated to the service of Christ and His Church,” and called his killing a “barbaric crime.”
Cardinal Ambongo’s statement stressed that religious freedom constitutes a fundamental human right and that the state bears responsibility for ensuring citizens may practise their faith without fear.
“No religious leader, regardless of faith or denomination, should ever become the target of violence,” the statement declared.
The bishops expressed hope that the bishop’s death would serve as a catalyst for renewed commitment to the protection of human life and religious liberty throughout Mozambique and across the African continent.
