Congolese Churches Unveil Peace Initiative for Great Lakes Region

The Congolese Catholic and Protestant Churches launched the “Social Pact for Peace” to address the humanitarian crisis and ongoing violence in the Eastern DRC and surrounding regions. Aimed at uniting citizens, religious groups, and leaders, the initiative emphasizes key principles for stability and proposes measures for dialogue and cultural collaboration. The churches seek support from local and international communities for lasting peace and propose the 2025 Jubilee Year as a promotional anchor for their efforts.

In light of ongoing security challenges in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the surrounding Great Lakes region, the Congolese Catholic and Protestant Churches have united under the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) to introduce a significant peace initiative. This initiative aims to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and longstanding conflicts that have afflicted this region for over thirty years.

The initiative, named “Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region,” is intended to unify citizens, religious groups, and political leaders around a collective objective: to put an end to violence and promote peaceful coexistence and social unity. The roadmap’s launch was announced at a recent press conference in Kinshasa by leading figures Monsignor Donatien Nshole and Reverend Eric Nsenga, signifying a collaborative church effort to stabilize the region.

The Pact emerges as a response to urgent calls for action from numerous stakeholders, seeking to ignite collective mobilization toward achieving lasting regional stability. The Eastern provinces of DRC have faced escalating violence amidst militia conflicts, particularly after the March 23 Movement allegedly received backing from Rwanda.

The precarious situation has resulted in widespread human rights violations, and conditions for the displaced have deteriorated, with nearly six million forced from their homes, including one million seeking refuge in other African nations. Efforts to negotiate peace and implement ceasefires have faltered due to complex local and regional interests.

In a commitment to break the cycle of violence, suffering, and insecurity, the churches advocate for a return to traditional African dispute resolution practices. They have designated 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope and intend it to be recognized as the “Year of Peace and Living Together,” urging collaboration among DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi to achieve a harmonious coexistence.

The roadmap entails five fundamental principles essential for establishing enduring peace and stability: appreciating African cultural values, encouraging dialogue over conflict, embracing diversity for unity, advocating for responsible leadership to end armed conflicts, and appealing to the international community for genuine support in fostering peace and environmental sustainability.

To execute this ambitious initiative, the Congolese Churches plan to form thematic commissions focused on peace and social unity. These commissions will engage in discussions through a series of workshops, ultimately providing recommendations that will contribute to a national Charter for peace and harmony.

The church leaders consider their plea to the populace as both “prophetic and pastoral,” underlining that the public’s backing is vital to the initiative’s success. They commit to engaging key societal and political figures to amplify their message and foster sociocultural activities in support of their efforts.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced persistent humanitarian challenges and violence, particularly in the eastern regions, for over three decades. The conflict has many intersecting factors, including militia violence, regional tensions, and complex local interests, resulting in millions of displaced individuals. Religious organizations have begun to mobilize to address these issues collaboratively, with a focus on peace-building, dialogue, and restoring traditional conflict resolution methods to foster stability in the Great Lakes region.

The launch of the “Social Pact for Peace and Living Together” represents a pivotal effort by the Congolese churches to address ongoing violence and humanitarian crises in the DRC and the Greater Lakes area. By rallying diverse community members around shared goals of peace and cooperation, and emphasizing the importance of traditional African values, the Churches aim to foster long-lasting solutions to years of instability. Their commitment to a national dialogue underscores the need for a unified approach to achieving peaceful coexistence and social cohesion in the region.

Original Source: www.vaticannews.va