ICC Note

Churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing increased violence that has caused many Christians to flee to the refuge of the forests. This comes as a time when the church was pushing for democratic elections to take place. The church in the Congo has historically been known as the provider of social services and was seen as legitimate even when the government was not. Additionally, a UN investigator was killed in April reportedly on the government’s orders. The government attempt to cover up its violence against Christians and other political opponents cannot be allowed to continue.   

06/09/2017 DRC (Christian Century) – Members of dozens of churches are in hiding and Catholic institutions in particular have been attacked in the Demo­cratic Republic of the Congo in recent months.

Amid a history of low-intensity conflicts stretching back 20 years in the predominantly Christian central African nation, it is unclear whether the violence is connected to the churches’ role in advocating for elections. President Joseph Kabila has remained in office even though his term ended in December. Many suspect him of having stolen the last election, in 2011.

“It’s a very dangerous moment right now,” said Laura E. Seay, a professor of government at Colby College, who studies the political situation in the Congo. “I’d be hesitant to say that it has nothing to do with the election and also hesitant to say it has everything to do with the election.”

Congo’s Catholic bishops mediated between Kabila’s administration and opposition groups, with an accord reached on New Year’s Eve to allow a peaceful transition of power, the first in the nation’s history, with elections to be held this year. But in implementation talks, the politicians strained the pastors’ patience, Vatican news sources reported, and in late March the bishops’ conference withdrew from the negotiations.

…

[Full Story]