Eastern DRC in a State of Misery

ACN recently spoke with Bishop Paluku Sekuli Melchisédech of the Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The bishop outlined the suffering the local people are going through. He also spoke about the attempts to Islamise this predominantly Christian region.

By ACN Staff

Bishop Paluku Sekuli Melchisédech ordaining priest. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) recently spoke with Bishop Paluku Sekuli Melchisédech of the Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The bishop condemned in the strongest terms the violation of the rights and dignity of the local people. The bishop outlined:

“The number of incidents is particularly high in the northern part of our diocese. Armed groups are destroying schools and hospitals. Teachers and pupils are being killed. They are even killing the sick as they lie in their hospital beds. Not a day goes by without people being killed.”

Refugees in eastern DRC. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

The bishop explained that the violence in the region has led to an increase in psychological problems:

“We need centres where people can go for therapy. Many people are traumatised. Many have watched as their parents were killed. There are many orphans and widows. Villages have been burned to the ground. We are in a state of utter misery.”

The bishop also warned of the Islamist element in recent unrest. A group from Uganda called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is believed by many to be an Islamist group, although the ADF denies this. However, local people who have been kidnapped by the ADF have reported being forced to convert to Islam and adopt Muslim names.

The bishop outlined other attempts to Islamise the predominantly Catholic region:

“Islam is being forced on us. Mosques are being built everywhere, even though no one needs them. They do not look like the traditional ones we are familiar with.”

Thousands of people have died in fighting and massacres in the area over the last decade. The bishop describes the refugee situation:

“In addition, there are at least 3 million displaced persons and about 7,500 people have been kidnapped. A large-scale project is underway to Islamise or expel the indigenous populations.”

The aftermath of an attack in eastern DRC. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

The bishop laments the lack of governmental presence in the region:

“It is a time of unrest, protest marches, strikes, civil rights movements. Normal life is paralysed. People are calling for more security…We are 2,500 kilometres away from the capital. As the government is doing nothing here, we have to take care of ourselves. We do not receive any help.”

The various armed groups, including the Islamist groups, hope to again access to the rich natural resources in the area to enrich themselves and secure future funding. The faith of the local people is very strong. The bishop explains that the diocese has numerous vocations to the priesthood.

ACN has been working in DRC for many decades. Priests there are supported by Mass stipends provided by ACN. ACN is also funding pastoral projects and also projects of healing to help local people recover from the years of conflict.