By Paschal Norbert
KINSHASA, JUNE 13, 2025 (CISA)- Catholic bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have fired back at Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba’s explosive claims that they are part of a grand conspiracy to topple President Félix Tshisekedi. The National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) denounced the accusations as reckless and unfounded, warning they risk reigniting the flames of national division the Church has worked tirelessly to extinguish.
The political temperature in the DRC soared this week after Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communication Channels, appeared on Top Congo FM on June 9, alleging a dangerous plot to overthrow the government. Bemba pointed fingers at a trifecta of powerful figures: the Catholic Church, former President Joseph Kabila, and opposition leader Moïse Katumbi.
“These are not mere suspicions,” Bemba warned gravely, stating “I have the documents and proof, and I will release them.”
He doubled down, claiming, “There is a project underway to eliminate the President of the Republic,” insisting that senior clergy of CENCO were complicit in the plan.
But in a strongly worded statement dated June 11, 2025, and signed by Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, the president of CENCO dismissed the allegations as a dangerous distortion of reality:
“The National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) expresses deep dismay, though not surprise, at the offensive and irresponsible remarks made by Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba during his appearance on Top Congo FM on June 9, 2025,” the archbishop of Lubumbashi stated.
He clarified, “Since the 2023 electoral period, Mr Bemba has consistently positioned himself as a hostile critic of CENCO, making repeated, baseless, and damaging allegations. His statements have been reckless and defamatory, undermining the credibility of CENCO and threatening the climate of trust essential for national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.”
“Given the current socio-political context, Mr Bemba’s aggressive media remarks suggest an unwillingness to accept the commendable decision by the Republic’s institutions and the Congolese people to resolve the ongoing crisis through peaceful means. One may reasonably question whether Mr Bemba’s rhetoric signals a return to the dark days of violence, as witnessed during his past involvement in tragic events in Kisangani and Kinshasa,” lamented Archbishop Muteba.
Archbishop Muteba further warned that “despite the seriousness of Mr Bemba’s remarks, there has been no response from the relevant institutions,” urging legal authorities to intervene.
CENCO’s Secretary-General, Mgr Donatien Nshole, echoed the president’s concern in a video posted on the conference’s official X page: “We denounce these serious accusations, without evidence, and are surprised by the silence of the country’s institutions. We call for peace, reserve the right to take legal action, and invite the faithful to pray for the person concerned.”
These remarks come against the backdrop of CENCO’s ongoing peace efforts in the Eastern DRC. In collaboration with the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), a union of 62 Protestant denominations in DRC, and under the umbrella of the Social Pact for Peace and Well-Being Together, CENCO has spent the last several months mediating between political leaders, armed groups, and international stakeholders. Their tireless work, marked by high-level missions both locally and abroad, seeks to bring lasting peace to a region long scarred by conflict and instability.
Unshaken by Bemba’s claims, the bishops remain committed to their mission.
“CENCO remains resolute in defending the values of truth, justice, dialogue, and reconciliation,” the statement concludes. “It urges the Congolese people not to fall for manipulation, hate speech, or division, but to stay vigilant, united, and committed to preserving national harmony and unity.”
