Nairobi, Kenya – February 12, 2025 ,By Brenda Asugu
Faith leaders, economists, and social justice advocates gathered in Nairobi today to launch the Jubilee 2025 Africa Campaign, a bold initiative urging the cancellation of unjust debts that hinder Africa’s development. Led by the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA), in collaboration with Caritas Africa and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the campaign calls for global financial reforms to create a fairer economic system.
The campaign builds on the historic success of Jubilee 2000, a movement that secured over $100 billion in debt relief for some of the world’s poorest nations, including Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania. These cancellations allowed governments to invest in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, dramatically improving lives.
“Debt is not just an economic issue; it is a moral one,” said Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J., Director of JENA. “The burden of unjust debt undermines dignity, stifles development, and traps nations in cycles of poverty. Our vision for Jubilee 2025 is an Africa liberated from these constraints, thriving within a fair financial system, and strengthened by ethical leadership.”
The campaign is inspired by Pope Francis’s call for a Jubilee Year, which emphasizes renewal, hope, and economic justice. The 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” reflects the movement’s mission to advocate for a more just and compassionate financial system that protects the most vulnerable.
Africa is at a critical crossroads, with over 22 countries currently in debt distress or at high risk, according to recent data.
The COVID-19 pandemic and global economic shocks have worsened the situation, forcing nations to divert scarce resources to debt repayments instead of essential services.
Promoting reforms in the global financial system to ensure fairness, accountability, and sustainability.
Raising awareness about the ethical dimensions of debt through education, advocacy, and media engagement.
Ahead of the campaign launch, a media workshop was held in Nairobi, bringing together journalists and editors from leading media houses. The workshop aimed to equip media professionals with expert insights and actionable data to drive impactful coverage of Africa’s debt crisis.
“Jubilee 2000 showed us the power of global solidarity,” said Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde, Chairman of AMECEA. “It proved that when faith communities, civil society, and governments unite, transformative change is possible. Now, Jubilee 2025 seeks to reignite that spirit of hope and action.”
With advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and global partnerships, the Catholic Church and its allies are determined to push for debt justice, ensuring that African by nations can invest in their people rather than remain trapped in cycles of debt and dependency.