Rubber Bishop: People have no means, but there is solidarity

Christian Lusambi – Vatican City

The armed conflict between the government forces and the rebels in M23, with the support of Rwanda, continues to separate in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in the cities of the rubber and Bocavo, as well as in their surroundings.

Despite the many unpleasant attempts to dialogue to reach a peaceful solution between the two parties in the conflict, “the situation does not seem to change a lot”, the bishop of the gums regrets, and Willie Naguji Naggel, which extends to the value that the population faces this tragedy that lasts more than three decades.

The talks between Kinshasa and M23, scheduled for today, were canceled after the armed group announced that it will not participate in the “peace talks” in Luanda, unlike Kinshasa, who confirmed her participation. Looking at such a context of despair, anxiety and unstable living conditions, the Christian bishop urged rubber to take advantage of the great fast as “the time of grace that calls for hope, but also to convert and forgiveness.”

He also joins the call and disarmament of Pope Francis in his message to the director of the Italian newspaper Correier Dela SerraLuciano Fontana. For the roof of the rubber, the war is not the solution to this conflict, but it must be a victory “in dialogue, because it is the only way to achieve peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in general and in the gums in particular.”

Excellence, how do you describe the current situation in the rubber, which is the city of Gaza M23 on January 28, 2025?

The situation has not changed much. The only difference is that the war is no longer in rubber, but it has moved to other parts of the diocese. Today, for example, one of our Walikale Diocese has been threatened, 250 km from the city, through the entrance to the M23/AFC forces.

The result is that people live more and more in the state of psychosis. In addition, security problems are still concerned, with kidnappings, killings and the impossibility of sleeping at night because the armed roads are entering homes for blackmail and looting.

Since March 5, the Catholic Church began the road to Easter with the time of great fasting. Can you describe how believers live this period of intense spiritual preparation, especially in this difficult and difficult context?

On March 5, I celebrated the Eucharist of the Eucharist in the cathedral and was surprised by the pleasure of seeing the church that was crowded: Christians came in a large number to start the holy time of great fasting. In all the dioceses of the city, the environment was the same, despite the economic situation and difficult security.

They know, since the rubber decreased at the end of January, the banks were closed and the absence of a financial institution. Population, especially merchants, are deprived of the contour. In addition, officials no longer receive their salaries, and parents have difficulty paying the expenses of their children’s school. Therefore, poverty increased significantly

However, Christians began well. For us, this liturgy time acquires a special meaning, because it calls us to expect a better future, the future of peace.

With the escalation of conflict and ongoing confrontations that cause massive population displacement, how do they live their rubber Christian faith now?

In general, people live with fear and anguish, because the new authorities have adopted very radical ways to restore security. But what I appreciate in Christians is their spirit of solidarity, especially with the poorest, especially those who were displaced by war, which are mostly military families.

In addition, the believers organize the pilgrimage – except here in the rubber, for clear reasons – and trying to organize spiritual exercises in the diocese. We see that Christians continue to persevere in faith and remain united with each other.

In his message on the Great Fasting of 2025, the Pope resumed the topic of the jubilee, pilgrims of hope, and called the entire church to internal renewal. How does the local church accompany the rubber Christian to live this time in the perspective of hope and see this holy year as a year of grace?

Since the beginning of the Great Fasting, with the Persian pastoral center, we have formed groups of pastoral animation who go to the diocese with the parish priests to organize preaching campaigns, which are very missing at the present time.

Many people participate in it, addressing difficult issues such as the love of the enemy, forgiveness and participation. These campaigns have achieved great success. We have chosen this way to help people renew internally, because the time of great fasting is the time of conversion, and sister life despite the current difficulties.

The negotiations between RDC and M23 in Luanda had to resume on Tuesday, but were suspended due to the latter’s withdrawal. Do you think that the dialogue process can return to a more peaceful situation?

For us, great fasting is also a time of hope and faith in the promises of the Lord, but also in the possibility of restoring peace and unity in a country divided today. Dialogue is one of the basic tools to solve the problems we live. For this reason, the news of the cancellation of Luanda conversations was a great disappointment.

Do you want to add a final message?

The rubber population suffers for a long time, especially due to the economic and humanitarian crisis. We ask all our brothers and sisters to support us by praying, but also with material and financial help. We also ask political leaders to promote dialogue to restore security and unity in our region and throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo.