Thirteen new Area Seventies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were sustained at The Church’s general conference leadership meeting, held on Thursday, April 2, 2026. These new leaders are from eight countries in Africa. The African continent is undergoing significant growth, these calling represent a significant increase in the calling of senior regional leaders.
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Sustained during the general conference:
Nuno A. Campos, 39, Luanda, Angola; currently serving as president of the Luanda Angola Stake; former branch president and stake presidency counselor; wife: Jessica; six children.
Samuel E. Eghan, 52, Accra, Ghana; currently serving as president of the Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission; former bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, and stake president; wife: Paulina; four children.
Fredrick N. Igweh, 52, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; currently serving as a high councilor of the Port Harcourt Nigeria North Stake; former bishop, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Evelyn; five children.
M. Franck Ilunga, 42, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; currently serving as president of the Kolwezi Democratic Republic of the Congo Joli Site Stake; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, district presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Kabongo; four children.
Countries where newly called African Area Seventy leaders are from
Countries where newly called African Area Seventy leaders are from© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Anani Kouegan, 52, Lome, Togo; recently released as president of the Lomé Togo Be Stake; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Kokovi; three children.
Sawman Machakaire, 43, Harare, Zimbabwe; currently serving as a seminary teacher in the Harare Zimbabwe Stake; former bishop, bishopric counselor, branch presidency counselor, high councilor, and stake president; wife: Mary; seven children.
Philip J. Mathemera, 62, Hatfield, Zimbabwe; currently serving as a temple preparation teacher; former bishopric counselor, branch presidency counselor, mission president, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Barbara; three children.
Patrick O. Mawongo, 53, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo; currently serving as an Area Seventy executive secretary; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, district presidency counselor, high councilor, mission president, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Sampembi; five children.
Ngqabutho F. Moyo, 44, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; currently serving as branch mission leader of the Queens Park Branch; former branch president, bishopric counselor, mission president, and stake president; wife: Faithful; three children.
Dennis K. Ocansey, 45, Accra, Ghana; currently serving as president of the Nigeria Abuja Mission; former branch president, bishopric counselor, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Rita; three children.
Jimmy C. Okot, 51, Gayaza, Uganda; recently released as president of the Gayaza Branch; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, bishop, bishopric counselor, district presidency counselor, district president, mission president, and stake president; wife: Amanda; five children.
Sylvain G. Onagnelin, 53, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; currently serving as a high councilor of the Abobo Côte d’Ivoire East Stake; former bishop, bishopric counselor, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Yolande Aya; two children.
Sunday F. Oyedeji, 49, Egbeda, Nigeria; currently serving as president of the Lagos Nigeria Egbeda Stake; former bishopric counselor, bishopric counselor, high councilor, and stake presidency counselor; wife: Cecilia; four children.
Released with thanks at the conference:
Samuel Annan-Simons, Ghana
Lauriano P. Balilemwa, Tanzania
Frederick M. Kamya, Uganda
Enefiok Ntem, Nigeria
Charles O. Oide, Nigeria
Tonga J. Sai, Côte d’Ivoire
Area Seventies serve under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and are “especial witnesses” of Jesus Christ to the geographic areas where they are called. They are not called to full-time service and typically serve for five years. Their duties include meeting and counseling with local Church leaders to help them fulfill their responsibilities and assisting the Twelve in “building up the church and regulating all the affairs” and “preaching and administering the gospel” in their assigned areas.