News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

DRC-unrest-Dec-2016-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/John Bompengo
World News

Bishops withdraw from mediator role in Congo peace talks

After the news was announced, protestors burnt tyres and took to the streets in the capital city of Kinshasa. Police used tear gas to disperse some of the demonstrators, according to news agency Reuters.

The Catholic Church became a facilitator between political parties after president Joseph Kabila failed to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate on 19 December 2016 after 16 years in power.

Helene C Stikkel / Creative Commons

But after delays in an agreement between sides continued over the last four months, people began to blame the Catholic Church.

In a pastoral letter earlier this month, Congolese bishops said that violence against Catholics had become widespread throughout the country since the Church became involved in the negotiations.

"Our country risks plunging into uncontrollable disorder," the bishops wrote in their letter. "The long wait for a peaceful democratic alternative is expressing itself in impatience and tension even toward our bishops' conference, which is only trying to mediate. Recurrent threats and violence are being fuelled by manipulation shamefully directed against the Catholic Church."

After the bishops stepped aside from the talks today, Donatien Nshole,secretary general of the Congolese bishops conference told Reuters: "We think that there's no longer anything to do.

"We have given all our time and all our energy and in the meantime pastoral work suffers."

Around half the population of DRC is Catholic.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate