AFRICA/DR CONGO - The commitment of religious denominations for peace in South Kivu

Monday, 23 September 2024 peace local churches ecumenicalism dialogue

CDJP Bukavu

CONGO, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE

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Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - An interreligious meeting for peace held on September 21 in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu, one of the three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been plagued for decades by the violence of dozens of armed groups, ended on a note of hope. The meeting, held in the Archdiocese of Bukavu, was attended by representatives of various denominations from the entire ecclesiastical province of Bukavu (Catholics, Kimbanguists, Muslims, Orthodox, Revivalists, Anglicans, Protestants, Salvation Army, Union of Independent Churches) as well as representatives of the diocese of Cyangugu in Rwanda.
The participation of Rwandan representatives was of particular importance. The Rwandan government is accused by the Congolese government of supporting the guerrilla groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular the M2 movement, which is active mainly in North Kivu. Kigali, in turn, accuses Kinshasa of having tolerated for decades the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) on its territory, considered an offshoot of the old Rwandan regime responsible for the 1994 genocide.
The governor of South Kivu praised the efforts of all religious communities to engage in dialogue and stressed the importance of cooperation between the civil authorities and religious communities in creating a well-functioning government system. The governor echoed the words of the religious leaders, recalling that the creation of peace and good governance requires the participation of all, regardless of political or spiritual differences.
The meeting also addressed another crisis in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, namely the monkeypox epidemic. Dr. Deogratias Cigwerhe, a specialist in the field, gave a detailed overview of the history of the disease, its origin, its transmission and the preventive measures to be taken to contain its spread. His presentation alerted the participants to the dangers of the disease and the importance of joint efforts to prevent it. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 23/9/2024)