KINSHASA APRIL 10, 2018 (CISA) – Bishop Théophile Kaboy Ruboneka, of the Catholic Diocese of Goma has condemned the recent murder of Fr Étienne Sengiyumva, parish priest of Kitchanga.
“Fr Étienne is the third priest killed in the area. Investigations on the perpetrators of these deaths never lead to anything. We are abandoned by all,” said Bishop Ruboneka.
“On our behalf, we will do everything to identify Fr Étienne’s murderers. In these cases, the witnesses fear for their lives and that of their loved ones and hardly offer useful information.”
According to the bishop, Fr Étienne was killed April 8, in Kyahemba around 3pm, after celebrating Mass in Kyahemba a circumscription of his parish in Goma the capital of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, reported Fides.
“Fr Étienne had gathered his collaborators, when an armed man, accompanied by other people, entered the meeting room and killed the priest,” stated Bishop Ruboneka.
“It is difficult to say who was responsible of this terrible act. There are different armed groups in our region, at least 15, which cannot be dismantled despite the presence of the regular army and the Blue Helmets of MONUSCO (UN Mission in the DRC),” added Bishop Ruboneka.
On Easter Sunday, Fr Célestin Ngango, parish priest of Karambi was kidnapped and released on 5 April but according to Bishop Ruboneka, there are no connections between the two episodes.
“Here in North Kivu we live in total chaos. The situation in my diocese of Goma, like that of Butembo-Beni, is incredible. We are completely abandoned by everyone; we live only thanks to Providence. I ask the faithful of the universal Church to pray for our region so that they can rediscover peace,” he said.
