Eastern Congo is plunged into chaos, with Goma being the scene of fierce clashes between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, whose soldiers have entered the region’s main city with the rebels in recent days, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The situation is very serious and delicate. The heavy fighting left many dead and injured among civilians and soldiers deployed as part of two conflicting forces.
Faced with the alarming scenario of the worsening security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, IMBISA expresses its concern about the escalation of conflicts in that country, calling for the intervention of the international community and internal and regional forces, urging all parties to the conflict to commit to the cessation of hostilities and the protection of the civilian population in Goma and other areas affected by military operations.
IMBISA condemns all types of violence and joins the voice of the universal and regional Church and the Congolese Episcopal Conference in solidarity in condemning all types of violence that have led to loss of human life and suffering resulting from these conflicts. At the same time, IMBISA praises the commitment of the Congolese Catholic Church for its involvement in promoting dialogue and its entire commitment to this approach to find a peaceful way out of the crisis, as well as the role it has played in building peace and assures its ready prayer and comfort to all those affected!
As the Holy Father, Pope Francis, says at the end of the weekly public audience in Vatican City, January 29, 2025: “War is always a defeat, let us pray for peace”. Therefore, we ask everyone to pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro
IMBISA Secretary General