By Paschal Norbert
KINSHASA, MAY 20, 2025 (CISA)- Catholic Bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) have issued a powerful appeal for peace, justice, and national unity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sounding the alarm over the country’s deepening crisis and unveiling a bold new initiative for national healing and reconciliation.
In a statement issued at the conclusion of their 62nd Plenary Assembly held in Kinshasa from May 12 to 15, 2025, and made public on May 18, by Msgr Donatien Nshole, Secretary General of CENCO .The bishops expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation, worsening political instability, and the manipulation of the justice system, all of which they say are tearing the fabric of the nation.
“In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), are gathered in our 62nd Ordinary Plenary Assembly in Kinshasa… Concerned by the multifaceted crisis that continues in our country, we have deepened our reflection on the initiative of the Social Pact for Peace and Good Living Together in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region,” the bishops declared.
The initiative, which has been developed jointly with the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), is intended to bring the Congolese people together in a shared commitment to peace and national renewal.
While acknowledging the efforts of President Félix Tshisekedi and the government to maintain unity and stability, the bishops warned that these efforts have not been enough: “We recognize the merits and value of various international talks conducted with the aim of bringing peace to the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. However, we are concerned that this crisis is only getting worse, to the great dismay of the Congolese people.”
On the security front, the bishops decried the continuing war and inter-community violence that they say are “spreading to a level that seriously threatens territorial integrity and national unity.”
They highlighted the devastating toll on civilians, including the loss of thousands of lives, widespread cases of rape, and mass displacement.
“We deplore the loss of thousands of human lives… and we therefore severely condemn the perpetrators,” they stated.
Politically, the bishops lamented that, at a time when unity is most needed, the country is being pulled apart by increasing tensions and power struggles. They cited difficulties surrounding consultations to form a Government of National Unity and expressed skepticism about deals related to the exploitation of Congo’s rich mineral resources.
“We must ensure that mining activities lead to the comprehensive development of each Congolese and the entire country,” they urged.
The bishops also directed sharp criticism at the justice system, describing it as still heavily manipulated despite efforts at reform.
“The system continues to be manipulated by the most powerful,” they said, pointing to unpunished scandals in the handling of electoral disputes and the increasing cases of land grabbing, including lands owned by the Catholic Church.
The socio-economic and humanitarian impacts of ongoing violence have left large segments of the population in eastern DRC living in “difficult and precarious” conditions. The bishops expressed deep concern over the closure of banks and airports in territories under rebel control, as well as the plight of displaced people forced to return to unsafe and unstable environments.
“We express our compassion and spiritual closeness to all the victims of these tragic situations (cf. Rom 12:15),” they said.
In response to these urgent challenges, CENCO and ECC are championing the Social Pact for Peace and Well-being, a grassroots-led process that seeks to mobilize the nation toward lasting peace and justice.
“Peace, lasting peace, is our priority,” they declared.
The initiative envisions a national forum not centered on power-sharing, but rather on critical reflection and dialogue about Congo’s history, its recurring crises, and the failures of past efforts.
“It is first and foremost a matter of reexamining our shared history… with a view to identifying the root causes of recurring crises,” the bishops explained.
This process will begin with scientific workshops involving experts and scholars, whose findings will shape a national consensus forum.
“For us, this meeting must be held in a spirit of fraternity and tolerance to achieve true reconciliation,” they said.
The hope is that this internal reconciliation will empower the DRC, under the leadership of the Head of State, to organize an international conference for peace in the Great Lakes Region.
In their recommendations, the bishops called on President Tshisekedi to trust the spiritual leadership of the Church and help facilitate this initiative, noting that “history will remember that it was under your leadership that the Congolese reached a consensus on better governance of the country.”
To political leaders, the bishops urged a renunciation of power struggles in favour of dialogue and national healing. To civil society, researchers, and academics, they extended an invitation to provide expert input to guide the peace process. And to ordinary Congolese, especially those in conflict-affected regions like North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, they offered words of encouragement and solidarity: “Do not lose hope of regaining the integrity of our country and of living (with) respect for human dignity.”
