WeeklySA_AdminTENSIONS: DRC Catholic bishops and other church leaders open dialogue with rebel group M23 amid political opposition to the talks and looming escalation of conflict…
By Jude Atemanke and WSAM Reporter
A delegation of top Congolese church leaders met representatives of M23 rebels on Wednesday to diffuse rising tensions amid imminent escalation of the conflict.
The delegation comprised Catholic bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and Church of Christ in Congo, who convened the meeting with Corneille Nangaa of the Alliance Fleuve Congo party (AFC/M23), a coalition of rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss efforts to push for permanent peace in eastern Congo.
The talks between the two parties centred on the initiative to secure a “social pact for peace and harmonious coexistence in the DRC and the Great Lakes region”. Following the meeting in Goma on Wednesday this week, a spokesman for the CENCO delegation – which included the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) – emphasised the importance of including the AFC/M23 in efforts to restore peace amidst the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.
“We have started meeting key figures to involve them in this peacebuilding process. We believe AFC/M23 has a significant role to play, as 2025 is the Year of Peace for our churches. Our priority is peace,” Donatien Nshole, speaking on behalf of the delegation, told journalists after the five-hour meeting.
Meanwhile, weeks after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed control of the Congolese city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, the fighters advanced towards neighbouring South Kivu – despite calls from regional leaders for an immediate ceasefire, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Over the weekend, leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc and the East African Community (EAC) bloc met in Tanzania, to discuss a way forward to restore peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while the conflict is also high on the agenda at an African Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Ethiopia this week.
At the Tanzania summit – attended by Angola, Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors.
They also directed defence chiefs from both the EAC and SADC to develop a securitisation plan for Goma and surrounding areas, without elaborating on the details. M23 had declared a ceasefire only days earlier, but resumed attacks this week.
For years, Rwanda has been accused by the United Nations, the DRC and other countries of funding and supplying M23 with weapons, allegations Kigali has long denied. During this recent offensive, Rwanda has neither confirmed nor denied that its soldiers are operating across the border, but also says it is acting in self-defence.
M23 claims it is fighting for the rights of ethnic Tutsis in the DRC, and that it’s engaging in a “defensive” war – even though this has been refuted by critics who point to the group actively seizing territory and mines, committing rights violations, and fuelling mass displacement.
At the same time, Rwanda has been accused of exploiting the DRC’s mineral resources through M23, allegations Kigali denies. M23 seized the coltan-rich area of Rubaya in DRC last year, taking control of the mines there.
Last month’s battle for Goma was the second time the rebel group took over the key city, after first temporarily taking control of it in 2012, forcing more than 140,000 people to flee.
According to the UN, since January 26 nearly 3 000 people have been killed and 2,800 others injured “in attacks by the M23 and their allies”. Since the start of 2025, at least 237,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. Meanwhile the church delegation that met the rebels on Wednesday has highlighted the importance of listening to the population through the Local Ordinary of Goma Diocese, Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele.
“That’s why we’ve come to appeal to them, to listen to them and at the same time, through Monsignor Willy Ngumbi, to listen to the population, to find out how people live here, what’s going on, and I appreciate the reception we’ve been given,” Nshole said. According to the CENCO Secretary General, the series of consultations is to continue until the return of peace in the troubled country.
“AFC/M23, represented by Corneille Nangaa, explained to us the reasons for their action. It’s not for me to say because I’m not their spokesman, but at this stage I can say that listening to them has motivated us even more to work towards this pact,” Mons. Nshole said.
“We understood that there are many things that could be settled if the Congolese were to sit down around a table.”
Dialogue unwelcome
The two parties also discussed the concerns of the Congolese people, notably the illicit exploitation of DRC’s raw materials and the fear of balkanisation given the fragile security situation in the eastern part of the country. However, the dialogue approach taken by the Catholic and Protestant churches to restore peace in DRC has not been welcomed by a section of politicians in the country.
The Union sacrée de la Nation (USN), the ruling party’s majority platform, has vigorously rejected the dialogue approach, describing it as “individual”.
Long before the Union sacrée de la nation, the UDPS/Tshisekedi presidential party had also opposed this move, citing the need to adhere to the Luanda process under the aegis of the President of Angola, João Lourenço and the Nairobi process under the aegis of Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya. – ACI Africa, Al Jazeera, WSAM
Comment
GET RID OF CORRUPT OFFICERS
Security in South Africa is facing a dilemma and an immediate need for a total overhaul following corruption especially in the police and correctional services departments which have been beset by dishonest officers who have turned these institutions into a criminal haven .
Addressing members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee last week, officials from the Department of Correctional Services announced that they had implemented remedial policies regarding the escaping of prisoners as recommended by the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka. This followed her probe into the escape from prison of ‘’ Facebook’’ rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester. The officers did not however elaborate on corrupt warders who aided prisoners to escape.
It is a fact, however, that there are prison warders who colluded with prisoners to bring them drugs, cell phones and money, amongst others, inside their cells – at a price. There are however those warders who were committed to their duties and through them a number of their corrupt colleagues had been arrested. It was through their efforts that a warden was arrested on January 1, this year while trying to smuggle drugs into a Pietermaritzburg prison in KwaZulu-Natal. A prison warder was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle cell phones to prisoners at Thohoyandou prison in Limpopo. Two warders based at the Ermelo correctional facility, were arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle dagga and a mobile phone into a prison.
This disease of corruption is also prevalent in the police force where certain men and women in blue have been infiltrated by criminals who offered them bribes for protection. Again, because of the commitment of police officers who are determined to serve their country and communities, a total 5489 officers were arrested and 430 convicted on various crimes between 2019 and 2023. This figure must have increased by now.
The latest glaring case of corruption is that of four police officers – two warrant officers and two sergeants – who were recently arrested for allegedly aiding the escape of the notorious illegal mining kingpin, Neo Tsoaeli, known as ‘’ Tiger,’’ who mysteriously disappeared after resurfacing from the Stilfontein mine in North West. As a result of colluding with criminals, eight officers were also arrested in October last year for allegedly extorting two Chinese businesses in Milnerton, Cape Town. The Hawks in Gauteng also arrested four members of the Crime Intelligence unit after they allegedly kidnapped, assaulted and robbed a Johannesburg man of R180 000 in August last year. The list is endless.
The disease of corruption has been so infectious that some police officers have now resorted to murder to get rich. A Limpopo female sergeant was arrested last year for allegedly committing multiple insurance fraud killings including eliminating her own relatives. This scourge of corruption warrants a total overhaul of both the police and correctional services structures which needs the elimination of unscrupulous officers who should be replaced by credible staff committed to serve the country with dignity.
The main duties of these officers are to serve and protect. They owe their communities a life free of violence and fear.
