AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bishop of Uvira robbed

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishop of Uvira was robbed yesterday, February 20, according to a statement issued by the diocese of the city in South Kivu currently being conquered by the M23.
"Together with Bishop Sébastien Joseph Muyengo Mulombe of Uvira, we, Fathers Ricardo Mukuninwa and Bernard Kalolero, narrowly escaped death this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the episcopal residence in Uvira," reads the statement signed by Father Ricardo. "Three FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) soldiers in uniform, speaking Tshiluba, entered the diocese headquarters and first threatened the security guard, Mr. Mwamba, and the cook, Mr. Jean. I went out to ask the soldiers about the situation, but they pointed their guns at all of us and threw us to the ground along with the bishop. They robbed us, taking money, phones and other belongings. They then locked us in our rooms and threatened to kill us at the slightest gesture so that they could search the whole house,” the statement said.
“Thank God, they left and we are still alive. The Missionary Sisters of Jesus Emmanuel came to our house without knowing what happened and this is the only way we can communicate the incident. We are currently unreachable on our mobile phones,” the statement addressed to the faithful concluded.
Tshiluba is a language spoken in West Kasai and East Kasai, two provinces in the central western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This suggests that the robbery of the Bishop of Uvira in the east of the DRC was carried out by soldiers of the regular army from these provinces. This is not an isolated case. There are reports of looting by soldiers in Uvira, where the M23 is now at the gates, as well as in towns previously captured by the pro-Rwandan guerrilla group. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/2/2025)

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