Catholic Nun Abducted on Her Way to the Market in DR Congo Set Free

Goma, 16 July, 2021 / 8:00 PM

The Catholic Nun belonging to the Daughters of the Resurrection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who was kidnapped on her way to the market has been set free, the Pontifical Foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) United Kingdom, has reported.

In a Friday, July 16 report, the leadership of ACN, however, says that there were scant details regarding the kidnapping and release of the Nun who has only been identified as Sr. Francine.

Making reference to the freed Catholic Nun, the Catholic charity reports, “Her community, the Daughters of the Resurrection, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that Sister Francine is traumatized but physically unharmed. They did not disclose more details.”

Sr. Francine was on July 8, seized in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on her way to the market to shop for her community.

ACN reports that a short time after the incident, the kidnappers contacted local church representatives.

North Kivu and the other Eastern Provinces of DRC have suffered attacks from rebel militia groups and criminal gangs.

The International Charity foundation, which supports a number of projects in the Central African country has expressed joy at the freedom of the Catholic Nun.

The Director of Projects at CAN, Regina Lynch, says, “We are very pleased that Sr. Francine is back safe and sound with her community.”

“Unfortunately, we are finding that kidnappings, especially of Priests and Religious, have become a weapon and a means of pressure in numerous African countries,” the ACN official says.

Pointing out that abductions have occurred across sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Lynch adds, “Many Priests and Religious, such as Gloria Cecilia Narvaez in Mali, often go missing for years. Other church members do not survive the abductions.”

She expresses regret that over time, the kidnappers have succeeded in instilling fear and terror among the populations, adding, “This is a very worrying development.”