“Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered,” said Pope Francis back in 2023 during his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), referring to the rich resources that have brought so much conflict and death to the country.

The escalating violence in eastern DRC has reached a critical point, displacing and killing thousands of civilians, and subjecting communities to unspeakable atrocities. As works of the Society of Jesus promoting justice, human dignity, reconciliation, and peace, we strongly condemn the ongoing violence and human rights violations in the DRC.

Decades of armed conflict have deprived countless men, women, and children of basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and education. Widespread killings, rape, forced displacement, and the destruction of schools and livelihoods have heightened the risk of sexual violence against women and girls, while children are often recruited into armed groups.

We call for respect for the integrity and sovereignty of the DRC, and for the rights of internally displaced persons to return to their ancestral lands. Since the conflict has both internal and external components, it could represent a real security threat to neighbouring countries.

We call upon the international community, humanitarian organisations, and governments to increase their support to affected communities. Urgent humanitarian aid must be mobilised to alleviate suffering, ensuring that assistance reaches those in need without obstruction.

The UN, alongside regional bodies, must enhance peacekeeping strategies, ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations while facilitating humanitarian assistance. The protection of civilians must remain at the core of all international interventions, with proactive measures to prevent mass atrocities and restore stability. The focus must shift toward long-term reconciliation, governance reforms, and the establishment of inclusive political processes that address the root causes of conflict.

The Church and other faith-based institutions have played a pivotal role in peacebuilding, offering spaces for reconciliation, providing humanitarian support, and amplifying the voices of those affected by conflict. We call on religious leaders to continue to stand in solidarity with the suffering communities, calling for justice, healing, and dialogue as fundamental pillars of sustainable peace.

Pope Francis recently said: “As I pray for the swift restoration of peace and security, I call on local authorities and the international community to make every effort to resolve the conflict through peaceful means.” The people of DRC have endured immeasurable suffering. It is time to take decisive action now to build a future where all Congolese can live in security and freedom.

Signatories:

Alboan
Canadian Jesuits International
Central Africa Jesuit Province – ACE
Entreculturas
Hekima University College
Jesuit Conference for Africa and Madagascar – JCAM
Jesuit Refugee Service – JRS
Social Justice & Ecology Secretariat – SJES