Church lets the people of DRC continue to suffer
Failed to challenge states that took advantage of the marginalised
DESPITE being regarded as “Africa’s potentially wealthiest nation” due to its strategic position, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to be plagued by conflict and war. This has been going on since the post-war expansion in 1960. Destruction, misery and suffering became the daily bread of the majority of Congolese people as the war continued endlessly to uproot and displace many from their homes to the extent that some had to flee and seek asylum in foreign countries.
Before making South Africa my home almost 10 years ago, I have personally witnessed the devastating effects of conflict when in 1992 hostilities between Katangese and Kasaians in the Congolese province of Katanga left many Kasaians jobless, homeless and in inhuman conditions.
To gain a better understanding of the ongoing structural, ethnic, economic and political conflict in the DRC, one has to go back to the days of colonialism. The colonial administration contributed towards a deepening of ethnic divisions and left the Congolese ill prepared to run their own country following independence, which led to crises that still prevail to this day.
Unfortunately, many people have continued to use ethnicity to satisfy their personal interests without any regard for national cohesion and reconciliation.
Having seen the disruptive effects of conflict and war as well as the unwillingness of politicians to put the interests of ordinary Congolese above their own, I often wondered what role the church in the DRC could and should play to promote peace and sustainable development and to help create a stable and prosperous country.
Sadly, the church in the DRC did not succeed in promoting lasting peace and sustainable development at different periods of its history despite having been presented with numerous opportunities to do so. Among these opportunities were, the church’s role in education during the colonial period; the appointment of a church leader as chairperson of the Sovereign National Conference during the Mobutu administration; and within the democratic process during the post-Mobutu administration when the position of the chairperson of the independent electoral commission was given to a church leader under whose auspices the elections were conducted.
The church has failed to critically challenge the industries and states that have taken advantage of the most marginalised Congolese.
It has even become complicit in this ill treatment at various times in Congolese history.
The church also seems to have failed to address the most pressing issues that affect the DRC with some sectors of the church even entertaining corrupt relationships with different regimes in the DRC. Five factors have been identified as to why the church did not fulfil its mission in the DRC, namely the privatisation of the church; the provision of social services as charities without any sense of empowering the beneficiaries; lack of a prophetic dimension; lack of faith and ignorance of socio-political issues, and lack of training.
So what can the church do to fulfil its mission in the DRC? In my view, it should start to embrace the notion of shalom, which refers to right and harmonious relationships with God, with other human beings and communities, and with nature. Shalom is the fundamental basis of lasting peace and sustainable development and the church is the main agent of shalom.
Sustainable development, which is oriented towards well-being, is a sign of the establishment of shalom. Sustainable development and reconciliation are both means for freeing people from oppression and marginalisation and for promoting human dignity. The church in the DRC has the power to expose any wrongdoing, to promote national unity and to stand on the side of the marginalised. In the process, the church can invite both regional and international churches to do the same and promote reconciliation in their own countries. The church in the DRC clearly has the potential to address the socio-economic, political and environmental issues affecting Congolese people because more than 90% of the Congolese population are Christians.
One could say that the Congolese church is a sleeping giant that needs awakening to help end conflict and poverty.
The DRC has what it takes to become a stable and prosperous country. Peace and sustainable development in the country will have positive impacts on the region and the continent.
For this to happen the church in the DRC and in the region should be actively engaged in the promotion of peace and sustainable development, and also take into account the religious values of the Congolese people. The DRC needs good policies and strong structures that may help build national cohesion. In this regard the church and its leadership can play an important role.
Dr Didier Kasongo is unemployed and runs a registered NPO (Operation Give Ye Them to Eat) in Cape Town. This article is based on his recent doctorate in Practical Theology (Community Development) at Stellenbosch University.
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