Men From Across Africa Gather in Mali to Strengthen Men’s Ministry

Men’s leaders from across Africa gathered in Mali for the 2026 General Assembly of the Pan-African Union of Men to review its work and look ahead.

Twenty-eight delegates from across Africa gathered in Bamako, Mali from August 26-30, 2026 for the General Assembly of the Pan-African Union of Men of the Christian Alliance (UPHEAC). Hosted by the men’s ministry in Mali, the gathering brought together delegates from national movements, with participants joining both in person and online.

At the heart of the gathering was a call to unity, peace, discipleship, and service. The General Assembly took place alongside the Men’s Conference, bringing together leaders and delegates to review the work of the current term and look ahead to the next two years.

For Benjamin Yao, President of the UPHEAC, the work of Christian men must leave a legacy that reaches beyond the present generation.

“The primary legacy to pass on is a culture of peace, an essential condition for spiritual, social, and economic development,” Yao said. “Young people are called to promote unity and work together for the advancement of the gospel and the development of Africa,” he added.

The General Assembly provided a time to examine the life and direction of the UPHEAC, discuss its structures and regulations, review plans and budgets, and consider how national movements can strengthen their work. The program also included presentations on men’s discipleship in Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, giving delegates an opportunity to learn from the experiences of different national movements.

The gathering was also a time to clarify the role of the Men’s Department within the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) in Africa.

“This gathering was necessary to help churches better understand the mission and responsibilities of the Men’s Department within the AWF Africa Region and to strengthen its organization and effectiveness,” said Sadrac Diarra, the President of the National Church of Mali.

For the leaders in Mali, this responsibility is closely connected to the needs of the churches and communities they serve.

“The objective is to mobilize men to address the current challenges facing Mali and the sub-region, to promote unity, peace, and mutual support among the churches and countries represented, and to encourage reflection on their spiritual, social, and economic responsibilities,” Diarra concluded.

The General Assembly translated these concerns into concrete decisions. Among the resolutions adopted, national movements were called to strengthen the spiritual life and commitment of men, promote prayer and regular study of God’s Word, and encourage men to fully embrace their roles in their families and churches. The delegates also called men to promote peace, reconciliation, and unity within communities and nations.

For Esaïe Koulibaly, President of the Men’s Association in Mali, mobilizing men is inseparable from equipping them for their calling.

“This gathering aims to mobilize, equip, and unite men so that they can fully fulfill their role in the Church and in the mission of evangelization,” Koulibaly said.

He also described the responsibility of Christian men within their families and communities.

“The Christian man must be a spiritual father and a peacemaker within his family, his church, his community, and his nation,” Koulibaly added.

That call extends to the Great Commission.

“Participants are called to greater unity in carrying out the Great Commission by making disciples and helping other believers grow in their spiritual journey,” he said.

The resolutions also addressed the practical foundations needed for the ministry to continue. National movements were encouraged to strengthen financial resource mobilization, ensure transparent and accountable management of resources, support statutory delegates attending the General Assembly, and work toward reducing participation costs through more affordable accommodation.

The Assembly also looked toward countries where men’s movements need further development. The delegates called on AWF Africa Region to support the establishment of viable and functional men’s movements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Republic of Congo. They also encouraged national churches to include national leaders of men’s movements in national decision-making bodies.

The next two years will also include preparation for the 25th anniversary celebration of the UPHEAP in Gabon. The Assembly called for the mobilization of men from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, and Angola to participate in the activities of the UPHEAC, including the anniversary celebration.

The General Assembly in Mali ended with resolutions, but its work points toward what comes next.

The delegates returned to their countries with a shared direction: to strengthen the spiritual life of men, equip them to serve their families and churches, promote peace and unity, develop men’s movements across Africa, and participate together in the mission of making disciples.

In Mali, the conversation about the next two years became a call to action. As Benjamin Yao reminded the delegates, the legacy of Christian men is not only what they accomplish today, but what they pass on to the generation that follows.