AFRICA/DR CONGO - The Bishops of Kananga greet "the first change as Head of State through the polls"

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "We want a new Congo. But this will not happen through a miracle, but from the work carried out by each of us", write the Bishops of the Episcopal Assembly of Kananga (in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo) in a message published at the end of their extraordinary session held from 25 to 26 January.
The message sent to Fides, welcomes the election of Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on December 30, 2018, defined as "the first change as Head of State through the polls". "After decades of struggles for the beginning of a rule of law, the first peaceful and democratic change offers us a unique opportunity. Let us begin a new political culture", the message underlines.
The Bishops reaffirm that the Church "faithful to her prophetic mission, will first be an instrument of the peace of the Lord among the Congolese. In this way, our desire is to see the dream of national reconciliation come true. The Church will remain a mother who gathers her children, who educates them and makes them enter into fraternity, peace and the light of the Lord".
Regarding the situation of the Great Kasai, the local Bishops note "the desire for peace shown by the supporters of Kamwina-Nsapu from the proclamation of the election results of 30 December 2018. From our different villages, thousands of young people do not stop to visit the city of Kananga in order to lay down arms". Kamwina-Nsapu was a traditional leader killed by the security forces in 2016 and whose followers decided to avenge his death by setting fire to areas of southern DRC (see Fides 21/6/2017).
"The joy of seeing one of our children (Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi is originally from the region) access the Supreme Court must not make us forget the obligation to lead the path and work for the beginning of the rule of law, ready to fight , without prejudice, any violation of democracy. We always give a chance to justice, truth, reconciliation and peace", concludes the message. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 29/1/2019)