Two latest United Nations reviews in regards to the Democratic Republic of Congo seize the tinderbox nature of life there. “Doha settlement brings DR Congo authorities and M23 rebels a step nearer to peace,” the UN wrote on July 20. Eight days later, a UN report turned grim: “UN condemns lethal assault on worshippers in DR Congo.”
The assault on Roman Catholic worshipers, waged on the night time of July 26 by Allied Democratic Forces based mostly in Uganda, killed greater than 40 males, ladies, and youngsters who had gathered for a prayer vigil. They had been killed with machetes, UN workers stated. The assault occurred within the city of Komanda, Ituri province, starting at 1 a.m.
“These focused assaults towards defenseless civilians, notably in locations of worship, aren’t solely appalling but additionally in violation of all human rights requirements and worldwide humanitarian legislation,” stated Vivian van de Perre, deputy chief of the UN’s Group Stabilization Mission within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the horror throughout his first weekly viewers since his summer time break. “I pray for the wounded and for all Christians world wide who proceed to endure violence and persecution,” he stated. “I pray for the wounded and for all Christians world wide who proceed to endure violence and persecution.”
In a telegram expressing his condolences, the pope wrote: “Might the blood of those martyrs develop into a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese individuals.”
The Congo has been in a protracted battle with Rwanda since 1996, when practically 2 million Hutu refugees entered the nation. “A small subset of these Rwandans who entered DRC had been Hutu extremists who started organizing militias throughout the Congo. Strain intensified as Tutsi militias organized towards the Hutu teams and as overseas powers started taking sides,” the Council on Overseas Relations reviews.
The battle is additional difficult by the Congo’s wealthy provide of uncommon earth minerals, which has attracted the presence of Chinese language firms. “Chinese language firms linked to Beijing now management nearly all of foreign-owned cobalt, uranium, and copper mines in DRC, and the Congolese military has been repeatedly deployed to mining websites in jap DRC to guard Chinese language belongings,” the council reported additional.
Anglican Communion Information Service quoted one ordained individual within the Congo asking Christians for his or her prayers: “We want solely to belief God, and he can present the fitting peace to us. Please, brothers and sisters, we nonetheless want your prayers.”
Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion’s Everlasting Consultant on the United Nations, added her concern for the individuals of the Congo: “We pray with sisters and brothers in DRC as they mourn these latest deaths and search peace as soon as once more. It’s deeply difficult work, and we pray God strengthens them. We additionally search methods to make sure that latest peace negotiations involving the U.S., DRC, Rwanda, and Qatar convey tangible advantages for them and for native communities, in a rustic on which all of us rely for the minerals that energy our telephones, computer systems and the clear power transition.”
Douglas LeBlanc is an Affiliate Editor and writes about Christianity and tradition. He and his spouse, Monica, attend St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Henrico, Virginia.
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