Police in Kinshasa, DRC, effectively managed to maintain order during religious services on February 16, by preventing attempts to disrupt mass at a Catholic parish. Tensions arose from threats by activists associated with the ruling party in response to church leaders’ meetings with political figures. These engagements are set against a backdrop of conflict involving the rebel group M23 in eastern Congo.
In Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), religious services on February 16 proceeded largely without incidents, despite threats against Catholic and Protestant congregations. Some demonstrators attempted to disrupt a mass at St. Theresa’s parish in Nd’jili but were thwarted by police intervention. The authorities had preemptively enacted measures aimed at safeguarding the peaceful conduct of the religious gatherings, following warnings from activists tied to the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party.
This unrest stemmed from the apparent dissatisfaction with meetings held by leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) with political figures, Corneille Nangaa of the Alliance Fleuve Congo and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. Nangaa’s association with the M23 rebel group, which poses a significant threat to the DRC’s stability, has drawn ire from the ruling party. The joint church delegation introduced a “Social Pact for Coexistence in the DRC,” aimed at addressing the long-standing crisis in the eastern regions of the country.
In summary, the police successfully prevented protests from disrupting religious services in Kinshasa, following threats from a ruling party faction. This unrest is linked to church leaders’ engagements with political representatives amid the backdrop of conflict involving the M23 rebel group. The introduction of a peace-oriented pact by church representatives highlights ongoing efforts to address extensive regional unrest.
Original Source: www.fides.org
