By Charles Igwe
In a courageous declaration, the bishops of the Bukavu ecclesiastical province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have unveiled a distressing portrait of the profound challenges besieging their nation. Addressing the internal armed conflict and exploitation by the international community, the six bishops have issued a clarion call for urgent intervention to alleviate the suffering of the Congolese population.
The statement, forwarded to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), condemns the Congolese government for its neglect of the populace and accuses the international community of plundering the nation’s resources. With approximately 120 militias vying for control over territory and natural wealth in the eastern regions since 1996, the toll of violence has been staggering, resulting in the loss of six million lives and the displacement of a further six million, according to UN estimates.
Of particular concern are the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, which have been under martial law for three years in a bid to quell the incessant unrest. Despite these measures, armed groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the March 23 Movement (M23), allegedly affiliated with ISIS, continue to perpetrate atrocities, including massacres and kidnappings of civilians.
The bishops decry the endemic insecurity plaguing their nation, with murders and abductions occurring with impunity in broad daylight. They denounce the encroachment of Goma by the M23, supported by neighboring Rwanda, and lament the economic stagnation resulting from the isolation and suffocation of urban communities. Additionally, the proliferation of parallel administrations in areas controlled by armed groups further compounds the crisis.
In their impassioned plea, the bishops highlight the erosion of trust between the civilian population and the military, exacerbated by unjust court rulings that undermine the rule of law. The closure of parishes due to insecurity underscores the desperate plight faced by ordinary Congolese citizens, abandoned by their leaders to navigate a landscape fraught with peril.
Calling upon the international community to respect the sovereignty of the DRC and cease exploitation of its resources, the bishops echo Pope Francis’s exhortation to multinational corporations to withdraw their unwarranted influence from the African nation. They commend the courage of priests and religious who continue to minister to communities amidst the chaos, embodying the unwavering commitment of the Catholic Church to serve the marginalized.
Despite the adversity, the bishops express hope for the nation’s recovery, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, mother of the resurrected one and queen of peace. Father Henri Chiza Balumisa, Vicar-General of Goma, echoes this sentiment of resilience, acknowledging the steadfast support of ACN in sustaining the pastoral efforts of priests amid dire circumstances.
