Catholic Church in Angola Plans Refugee, Migrants Fair to Celebrate Diversity, Denounce “situations of vulnerability”

Luanda, 25 September, 2025 / 9:56 PM

The upcoming Refugee and Migrant Fair, organized by the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (CEPAMI) in Angola, is a major event aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence, celebrating cultural diversity, and recognizing the contributions of migrants and refugees to the country’s development, an official at the commission has told ACI Africa.

Scheduled for September 27 at the Catholic University of Angola (UCAN), the fair is set to feature 14 refugee communities and migrant groups from countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

“The fair seeks to show that it is possible to live in differences, in diversity, and that in this diversity we can also build communion, not division,” the Executive Secretary of CEPAMI told ACI Africa on Tuesday, September 23.

Sr. Carla Luísa Frei Bamberg described the initiative as a “celebration with strong ecclesial, social, and cultural dimensions, offering migrants and refugees the chance to highlight their stories, values, and talents.”

Calling the event a “festival of peoples”, she said the fair is also “a space to denounce situations of vulnerability while proclaiming the hope and resilience of those seeking a new life in Angola.”

Sr. Carla said that the event also seeks to raise awareness among Angolan society and authorities about the challenges migrants and refugees face, especially regarding access to legal documentation, healthcare, and education. 

The Brazilian-born member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Saint Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians) noted that the fair also highlights the generosity and hospitality of the Angolan people, who, despite economic and social hardships, have shown openness to welcome those fleeing war, political persecution, and social instability. 

“Even with difficulties, Angola is a welcoming country where migrants feel at home. This fair wants to showcase that positive reality, but also point to what still needs to be done,” she said. 

The fair is expected to feature cultural exhibitions, traditional dances, international cuisine, and a poetry and music contest centered on the theme of migrants as missionaries of hope during the fair.

According to Sr. Carla, Angola currently hosts about 57,000 refugees, most from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, and Eritrea. Of these, only around 10,000 hold official refugee cards, which guarantee access to education, healthcare, formal employment, and banking services. 

The lack of documentation creates cycles of exclusion, preventing even the registration of children at birth and putting them at risk of statelessness. 

“The greatest challenge is to guarantee human dignity, and dignity comes through having identity,” she said. 

The CEPAMI executive also warned that refugee support in Angola faces new obstacles with the closure of two key agencies: the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). 

“It is sad news. We will feel somewhat orphaned, but with other partners and refugee leaders, we will find new ways to live this mission,” she said.

Despite these challenges, CEPAMI continues to support migrants and refugees through diocesan initiatives, congregations, and lay collaborators.

“The mission of the Church is to stand with the most vulnerable,” Sr. Carla said, calling the fair both a celebration and a prophetic sign of hope.

Organized by the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo in partnership with CEPAMI, the fair will be followed by the Jubilee of Migrants Mass on Sunday, September 28, at the Shrine of St. Anthony of Kifangondo in the Diocese of Caxito. 

Sr. Carla called on Angolan authorities to address migrants’ legal status with more urgency and compassion, especially for children. 

“Everyone has the right to a homeland, to an identity,” she said, adding, “Even if no one wishes to be called a refugee, that recognized status is the only gateway to basic rights. Angola can be an even more welcoming nation if it takes steps in that direction.”