EngRegional
Pope’s prayers not enough to save DRC
Pope
Francis is set to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from January
31 to February 3, and then fly to South Sudan for a further two days visit. The
two countries are torn and crippled by violence, and divisionism.
In
an interview with Vatican News, the Apostolic Nuncio in the DRC, Archbishop
Ettore Balestrero, said that the main purpose of the pope’s visit in DRC is “to
awaken faith in those who do not have it and to strengthen the joy of those who
do” and that throughout the country there is an anticipation of receiving a
word of consolation and also of healing of the wounds that are still bleeding,
especially in the east.
The
pope initially planned to visit Goma in North Kivu but as violence continues to
ravage parts of the province, he will stay in Kinshasa, where he will meet with
the country’s authorities, victims of the conflict in the east of the country,
and representatives of charity organizations.
For
almost three decades, DRC has experienced its fair share of hostilities, from
wars between 1996 and 2003 to armed conflicts since then and up to now. From
Mobutu Sese Seko to Félix Tshisekedi, all Congolese presidents and UN peace
keeping missions failed to restore peace and security in eastern DRC resulting
in the formation of more than 130 armed groups.
Worse
still, Kinshasa has for long collaborated with some of the UN sanctioned groups,
equipping them with financial and logistic means, with promises to help the
national army fight other rebel groups in return. The militia Kinshasa colludes with include the FDLR
genocidal militia, and its Mai-Mai allies. Supported by the Congolese army,
FARDC, the groups are now fighting the M23 rebels, who are fighting for their rights
as citizens.
The
Pope’s arrival in Kinshasa is ‘a dream come true’ to the Congolese. His prayers
will console and heal some of the bleeding hearts, but they will not be enough for
the Congolese who have suffered from irresponsible leadership for a long time.
Before
even the prayers come, Tshisekedi has ignored regional efforts aimed at
restoring peace and security in his country. The Nairobi and Luanda peace
processes were expected to set a clear roadmap to resolve the conflicts in DRC,
yet the Congolese government has showed no will for implementation.
Congolese
officials are overseeing
massacres of their Kinyarwarwanda-speaking compatriots, mainly the Tutsi,
with security forces coming on record and calling upon the population to take
up arms and kill Rwandophone compatriots.
Kinshasa hired a 100 personnel from Russia’s
Wagner Group, and 103 ex-French Legionnaires. The mercenaries are expected to
fight the M23 rebels, effectively wrecking more havoc in the region.
The Pope’s
prayer is going to change nothing with these leadership failures, unless
Tshisekedi changes his mindset and listens to the pope’s message of peace.
Advising
Tshisekedi to strive for national unity first should be the Pope’s priority, as
well as recommending him to implement resolutions of peace processes he signed
and follow recommendations given by the UN to stop the ongoing violence in DRC.
The
head of the Catholic Church would also exhort religious leaders, especially
those belonging to Catholic Church, to encourage unity and reconciliation among
the Congolese rather than conspiring and inciting demonstrations which target
Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
