The Executive Secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), Fr. Celestino Epalanga, is urging African leaders to develop a unified strategy to address the impact of the U.S. government’s abrupt funding cuts. In an interview with ACI Africa on February 13, Fr. Epalanga expressed concern over the suspension of U.S. aid programs, including those from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as well as the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The suspension, ordered by the U.S. government in a January Executive Order, has affected numerous life-saving programs, including HIV treatment and prevention, impacting vulnerable populations in Africa. Fr. Epalanga emphasized the need for African nations to work together and create solidarity, advocating for a common fund to address challenges such as food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and HIV/AIDS.
He cautioned that these funding cuts would exacerbate existing issues in health and development, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The priest called for compassion and collaboration, echoing Pope Francis’ call for fraternity in his Encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
The recent suspension has already affected projects like a $9 million dam rehabilitation in Angola. However, there is hope following a U.S. Federal judge’s order on February 13, requiring the restoration of foreign aid funding.
This article was originally published by ACIAfrica.