Bishops in DRC’s Kisangani Ecclesiastical Province Decry Insecurity, Poor Road Network

“We denounce the lack of control over migratory movements (internal and external) in our territories,” the members of ASSEPKIS further say.

They add, “The lack of a policy for the reception and integration of Central African, South Sudanese and other refugees is often the cause of the suffering of local populations, as these migrant groups seem to be protected by certain national and provincial authorities.”

The Catholic Church leaders also condemn “the inertia of State services in conflict zones, when they were supposed to reassure the population they are called upon to provide security.”

“We have the impression that these services, as well as the local authorities, make deals with armed groups and aggressors against the peaceful population who can no longer go about their business,” ASSEPKIS members lament in their March 8 statement.

They add, “The malfunctioning of these services aggravates certain conflicts between populations, particularly the land conflict, which is becoming recurrent between certain ethnic groups in our administrative provinces, which in some ways demonstrates the powerlessness and weakness of the state.”

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“This often leads to multiple deaths among our populations, which we deplore, for human life seems to be despised, even though it is sacred by nature,” the Bishops say in their four-page statement.

“All these situations of instability in our communities feed cruelty and cultivate hatred between populations who have always lived and are called to live together,” the Bishops decry in their statement titled, “What have you done with your brother?”

They go on to offer “condolences to the Dioceses that have lost some pastoral workers, as well as to the families who have lost theirs in tragic situations and sometimes in inexplicable violence.”

“Our compassion is also addressed to the Christian communities who can no longer work peacefully for the proclamation of the Gospel because of the insecurity that prevails in some Parishes, where displacement of populations is commonplace, as well as the looting of Parishes and Presbyteries,” they add.

As a way forward, the members of ASSEPKIS urge authorities to “commit themselves to putting an end to the phenomenon of armed groups and ensure the security of persons and their property.”

They further invite the authorities to “work for the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the population by maintaining roads and securing river navigation for the good of our people.”

The Bishops encourage pastoral agents to “be true witnesses of mercy and reconciliation; and not to be discouraged in their evangelizing mission, in spite of the difficulties and hardship they are subjected to in certain regions.”

They further call on pastoral agents to “rekindle the hope of the faithful in this time of multifaceted crisis, urging them not to listen to or follow those who preach hatred.”

“We invite each one to be more responsible for his brother wherever he is in order to safeguard what is important: the life and value of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God,” the Bishops say in the statement.

“We implore the mercy of God, Our Father, to enlighten us in the building of our Provinces, so that the dignity and value of human life may be respected,” the Bishops say following their four-day meeting that was chaired by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kisangani, Marcel Utembi.

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Also in attendance were Vicars General, the Secretary General of National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), the Rectors of three provincial houses of formation, the provincial leaders of the Union of Major Superiors (USUMA), the Association of Major Superiors (ASUMA), the Council of the Apostolate of the Catholic Laity of the Congo (CALCC), and the Provincial Office of the Catholic Convention Schools.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.