On January 3, 2025, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Fr. Jean Luc Enyegue, S.J. will officially assume his new mission as Provincial of the Jesuit West Africa Province (AOC). His appointment by the Superior General, Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J., marks a new chapter in the story of a Province that has continually evolved in fidelity to the Ignatian call to serve Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
The West Africa Province (AOC) covers 14 countries, with Jesuits actively present in 12: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. From formation houses and parishes to social centers and schools, Jesuits in the Province continue to witness to the Gospel through faith, intellectual life, and justice.
The history of the AOC Province stretches back to its early days as a Vice Province (1973–1984) under the pioneering leadership of Fr. Charles Vandame, S.J. (1973–1979) and Fr. Agide Gally, S.J. (1979–1984). Their efforts laid the groundwork for what would become a vibrant and dynamic Province, officially established in 1983.
From 1984 to 1990, Fr. Eric de Rosny, S.J., served as the first Provincial of the newly erected Province, guiding its consolidation and fostering its identity across a vast and culturally diverse region. He was succeeded by Fr. Edouard de Loisy, S.J. (1990–1996), who strengthened formation and apostolic initiatives during a period of growth and transition.
The following decades witnessed a succession of Provincials whose leadership deepened the Province’s commitment to education, pastoral service, and social transformation: Fr. Jean Ilboudo, S.J. (1996–2000), Fr. Jean-Roger Pascal Ndombi, S.J. (2000–2008), Fr. Eugène Didier GoussinKindey, S.J. (2008–2014), Fr. Hyacinthe Zaoro Loua, S.J. (2014–2020), and Fr. Mathieu Ndomba, S.J. (since 2020). Each of them has left an indelible mark, ensuring that the Province continues to be a bridge of faith, culture, and service across West Africa.
Now, as Fr. Jean Luc Enyegue, S.J. takes up this mantle, the Province stands at a moment of both continuity and renewal. A historian and theologian by training, he brings to his new mission a deep appreciation of the past, a discerning vision for the future, and a proven capacity for leadership. His years as Director of the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) and Lecturer at Hekima University College have equipped him to guide the Province forward in its mission of faith, dialogue, and service—a story still being written with intellectual rigor, intercultural engagement, and a steadfast commitment to justice. As he sets forth on this new mission, may the Lord, ever faithful to His promise, be favorable to him.
Norbert Litoing, S.J.,
Interim Director – JHIA
Editorial – November 2025 | Download the November 2025 JHIA Newsletter (PDF)
