N'DJAMENA - Over 250 delegates from the Network of Former Jecists of Africa (RAJA) gathered in N'Djamena, Chad, from August 4 to 9, 2024, to deliberate on their role in fostering a responsible laity within the Church and broader society during their 11th Pan-African General Assembly.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the assembly focused on the theme, "The contribution of the RAJA to the construction of a responsible laity in the service of the Church and society in Africa." The event began with an opening mass at the Notre-Dame de la Paix Cathedral, led by Metropolitan Archbishop Ditangar Goethe Edmond of N'Djamena, signaling the start of a week dedicated to both reflection and strategic planning.

The current president of RAJA, Clotaire Deguenon, emphasized that this general assembly heralds a new era for the network. He explained that the assembly traditionally operates in two segments: a study session and a statutory session. The study session allows members to deepen their understanding of contemporary issues relevant to their faith, while the statutory session focuses on administrative updates, including the election of new office bearers and adjustments to governing texts.

Participants hailed from 11 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Chad, and Togo. Notably, Burkina Faso, where the RAJA headquarters is located, was represented by a delegation that included a priest and a religious sister.

The event featured a series of presentations starting with an inaugural conference by Bishop Joachim Kouraleyo Tarounga of Moundou. Subsequent discussions tackled a range of topics related to violent extremism in Africa, such as the socio-economic and political marginalization of youth in the Sahel, youth employability and access to basic social services, and the use of human rights education as a resilience tool against extremism.

A significant session addressed the impact of violent extremism on women, exploring the integration of gender perspectives into efforts to combat such extremism. These discussions provided the delegates a comprehensive view of the challenges posed by the crisis in the Sahel, its broader implications, and the collective responsibility to counter extremism and terrorism both in Africa and globally.