Members of the Clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Kindu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have decried rising insecurity in Maniema, a province under their pastoral care, noting that incidences of rape on women and minors in the province are especially on the rise.
In a statement share with ACI Africa, the Catholic Priest highlight various issues affecting Maniema, including a questionable resettlement of ex-rebels in the province, the province’s economic health, which they say is in a “critical” condition, as well as the worrying increasing armed robberies and other incidences of crime in the region.
They specifically express concern that innocent civilians in Maniema have been left to their devices as young girls and women are raped.
“In the city of Kindu, many other disturbing facts torment us by their gravity and their repetition: armed robberies accompanied by rapes on women and girls under age,” the Priests said during their April 15-20 meeting.
They added, “At this level, it is important to note that these criminals often operate in complete peace. And the population is almost abandoned to its fate by the competent services that are supposed to protect it. This resignation is at the base of the popular justice which causes losses in human lives. It is a deplorable situation!”
In a report they shared with ACI Africa on April 26 following their meeting, the priests bemoan what they describe as “a gloomy picture” of Maniema, and decry the dysfunction of the provincial political institutions in addressing the situation.
They note that insecurity was rampant in the city of Kindu and in many other places of Maniema Province, including the territories of Kabambare, Kasongo and Lubutu.
Insecurity in these areas had had a direct impact on the lives of people, they say, and add, “It undermines human dignity and respect for human rights.”
The members of the Clergy of Kindu Diocese express their “deep” concern about the province’s deteriorating humanitarian, economic, and security situation.
“We have considered the current living conditions of the Maniemian population, for which we have pastoral responsibility. We are deeply worried and concerned by the deterioration of the economic, security, and humanitarian situation,” they said during their meeting, expressing regret that a lot had changed for the worse for a province that they said used to be the “real granary” for her neighbors, enjoying relative economic stability.
“Today, the economic health of our Province is critical. It is getting worse day by day and is characterized by the decline in agricultural production, the soaring prices of foodstuffs and basic necessities,” the members of Clergy of Kindu Diocese said.
They decried the deterioration of infrastructure including roads in Maniema Province that had cut Kindu from her neighbors.
“There is the almost non-existence of roads that can link the city of Kindu to the 7 territories of the Province of Maniema and to the other neighboring provinces. The train that used to facilitate the transport of people and goods from Kindu to Lubumbashi, Kindu to Kalemie and vice versa, is becoming very rare. It is the same for the inoperability of the floating bridge, which is the ferry, linking the right and left banks of the Congo River in the city of Kindu,” the Catholic Priests said.
In order to promote the development of Maniema Province, the Clergy of Kindu suggest that local authorities open up the capital of the Province to all its territories.
To the population of Maniema, the Catholic Priests’ message is to speak up to authorities.
“The worst thing is discouragement, guilty silence and disinterest in these situations,” they say, and add, “We must take our common destiny in hand…. Let's stand up, let's raise our still bent foreheads and let's take the most beautiful momentum.”