New President of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC
Jean Nsonjiba Lokenga, a Congolese working in Kampala (Uganda), has been appointed President of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC until the next Plenary Assembly in 2008. Jean Lokenga is the Vice-President of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC for Africa and professionally he works for Amnesty International, as Human Rights Defenders Co-ordinator of the Africa Program.
After the passing of the President Patricio Rodé last November 17th, 2005, the post of President was vacant. According to Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC Statutes "if a vacancy occurs in the position of President between Plenary Assemblies, the Council shall appoint one of the Vice-Presidents to act as President until the next Assembly". Jean Lokenga has been appointed by the 14 voting members of the Council in a poll which took place in the last days. The poll results were as follows: 13 votes in favour and 1 abstention.
Jean Lokenga is a former Africa Regional Co-ordinator of Pax Romana IMCS/MIEC and also a former intern of the Pax Romana Human Rights Internship Programme in Geneva.
The priority areas of Jean Lokenga´s Presidency until 2008 will be:
- To finalise the process of Strategic Reflection;
- To organise important events for the movements including the 60th Anniversary of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC in Jerusalem in 2007 and the Plenary Assembly in Africa in 2008;
- To support the work of the International Secretariat including in its fund-raising efforts;
- To represent Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC
Jean Nsonjiba Lokenga, a Congolese by nationality is working since June 2005 in Kampala (Uganda) with Amnesty International as Human Rights Defenders Co-ordinator in Africa. He is also the Vice-President of Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC in charge of Africa and member the International Council of Pax Romana. Jean Lokenga holds a Masters in Development Economics from Facultes Catholiques de Kinshasa ( DR Congo) and is awaiting another Masters in Sociology from University of Nairobi (Kenya). He has a Bachelor in Development Economics and another one in Philosophy and a certificate in Human Rights in the University of Geneva. He has been the Africa Regional Co-ordinator of Pax-Romana, Students' Branch called the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) from 1999 to 2002, before joinging Amnesty International as the East Africa Campaigner. His career includes more than two years as Project Officer in FOLECO/GTZ - German Technical Cooperation / National Federations of NGOs in Congo. He speaks four African languages plus French and English.
