Press Release
Nairobi December 17, 2008
Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa new President of the
All Africa Conference of Churches
Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa is the new President of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). He was elected at the just concluded AACC 9th General Assembly held in Maputo, Mozambique from 7-12 December, 2008.
Archbishop Mokiwa, Tanzanian, replaces the Rt. Rev. Dr. Nyansako-ni-Nku of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, who provided exemplary leadership for the last 5 years. He will be assisted in his work by five Vice-Presidents drawn from Western Africa (Bishop A. Mensah), Central (Bishop D. Yemba), South (Mrs. F. Cherinda), North (Mrs. J. Kwaje) and Bishop Paul, a one representative of the Orthodox family. 
Archbishop Mokiwa was inducted into office on December 12, 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique, at a ceremony attended by H.E. Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa. At the same ceremony other members of the governing body were inducted including Rev. Dr. André Karamaga, the new AACC General Secretary.
The Rt. Rev. Mokiwa is the fifth Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania elected in February 2008 for a five year term. His consecration ceremony on 24 May 2008 in Dodoma, Tanzania, was attended by members of the ecumenical family including the AACC. He will continue in service of his church even as President of AACC. Previously, Archbishop Mokiwa served as a member of both the AACC General and Executive Committee, AACC governing organs.
Archbishop Mokiwa joins the AACC leadership at a time when the Church in Africa is faced with a lot of critical challenges among them the crisis of governance such as in Zimbabwe; wars and insecurity e.g. in the Great Lakes Region and in the Horn of Africa and widespread poverty. Archbishop Mokiwa is bringing his vast experience into the ecumenical movement and will contribute towards reconstruction and transformation of the continent.
AACC is a Pan-African Christian organisation founded in 1963 in Kampala, Uganda. It brings together in fellowship 173 churches and Christian councils from 40 African countries.
