A Rwandan Catholic priest has been elected as president of the African branch of SIGNIS, the global Catholic association for communication.

Fidele Mutabazi was elected on Monday, August 3, during the opening of the SIGNIS World Congress 2026 in Kigali, where Catholic media practitioners and communication experts from around the world are meeting.

Mutabazi, 41, succeeded Nigerian priest Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika, who led the organisation for the past eight years. He becomes the first Rwandan to lead the organisation.

Mutabazi will lead SIGNIS Africa for a four-year term, renewable once.

He said he would focus on strengthening collaboration among Catholic media organisations across the continent by building a more connected and supportive network through partnerships, resource sharing and mutual support.

“The focus is on building a stronger, unified network among media professionals and members across the African region, especially in Central Africa and Rwanda, through sharing resources, building partnerships and supporting one another,” he said.

Mutabazi currently serves as Executive Secretary of the Media Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda (CEPR) and Director of Kinyamateka, a church-run publication.

He was ordained a Catholic priest on August 2, 2014.

He served in education and parish ministry before pursuing journalism studies at the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK). He has led Kinyamateka since 2019.

Mutabazi joined SIGNIS in 2021 and, a year later, was elected to represent Central Africa on the SIGNIS Africa Board.