Great Lakes Bishops urge leaders to put an end to violence in DRC

By Lisa Zengarini

The Catholic bishops of Central Africa have urged political leaders in the Great Lakes region to do all they can to put an end “to the suffering of the people of eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)”, who continue to endure conflict and violence by armed militias.

The members of the Association of Bishops' Conferences of Central Africa (AECCA), which includes the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi, met last week on the sidelines of the World Synod of Bishops taking place in Rome.

Build bridges of peace

In a “fraternal appeal” issued after the meeting they encouraged the region's political leaders to "build bridges of peace”  between the three states  and peoples "by creating favorable conditions for living together in fraternity". 

“We are aware that peacebuilding is not an isolated act, but a common and collective work involving different levels of society and structures of different orders," the message,  said.

Ongoing vilence and abuses by militias and army in Eastern DRC 

Attacks by armed groups and recurring inter-communal violence have threatened populations in the in Eastern DRC for nearly 30 years. More than 120 militias, some of whom supported by foreign countries including Rwanda, actively operate in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces, and many regularly perpetrate widespread violations and abuses that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

While combating these groups, the government’s armed forces and police have also been involved in widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including sexual violence, torture and arbitrary killings.

In their message reported by Fides Agency,, the Bishops of the Great Lakes region thank “all those, who, in the international community, in our governments, our institutions and our communities, work tirelessly and sometimes at the risk of their lives to restore the hope of justice and peace to our peoples."

At the same time, they call on “all those who continue to sow death, devastation and division in our region, from far or near, to listen to the Church's call for universal solidarity and to be guided by the search for integral human development.”

Appeal to young people not to yield to violence and hatred

"Our common nature as migrants on this Earth teaches us that we live from the fruits of the trees that others have planted”, the bishops write. “Let us not focus on destroying everything, including other human beings, but on planting more trees for future generations".

In particular, the message recommends that the young people of the three states not yield  to manipulation, incitement to hatred and division.

Pope Francis' closeness to people suffering violence in DRC

Pope Francis who met victims of the violence in Eastern DRC during his Apostolic Journey to the African nation earlier this year, has repeatedly expressed his closeness to the Congolese people.

During the special Prayer Vigil for peace in the DRC and South Sudan he presided over in St. Peter's Basilica on 23 November 2017 the Pope once again called for adequate efforts  for peace through dialogue and negotiation.

On 4 February 2018 he invited Christians worldwide to join a Day of Prayer for peace in the two nations on  23 February.

In a video message released on 2 July, 2022, after the second postponement of his Apostolic Journey to Africa,  Pope Francis reaffirmed his affection for the peoples of DRC and South Sudan:  “I carry within me, in prayer, the pain that you have endured for all too long” he said, urging the Congolese and South Sudanese not to let themselves “be robbed of hope.”