The United States Conference or Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called on the US government to take immediate action on the ongoing anomalies initiated by the incumbent President Fèlix Tshisekedi’s government in the electoral process as the Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls on December 20, 2023.
In a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 8, 2023, USCCB International Justice and Peace chairman Most Reverend David J. Molly has expressed growing concern over the situation in the DR Congo.
“As a Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to express my increased level of concern for the deteriorating situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You will recall the visit of the CENCO-ECC delegation to Washington in April and my follow up letter to you in mid-May,” Most Reverend Molly writes.
Also highlighted in the letter to Blinken are a number of pertinent issues affecting the DR Congo that remains unresolved by the incompetent Tshisekedi government as recently communicated by the clergy in the country.
“I attach for your consideration the latest message from the Congolese Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CENCO). I share my Congolese brother bishops’ concerns over the long list of government failures to: (1) stem the violence in the eastern DRC generally, (2) ensure an independent audit of the electoral voter lists, and (3) stop the political violence perpetrated against opposition political candidates including some incidents conducted by the President’s political party,” The Most Reverend writes.
Most Reverend Molly also noted the ongoing infringement on human rights and abuse of authority by Tshisekedi’s regime following attacks and illegal restrictions imposed on the opposition.
“I am also alarmed over CENCO’s report of government repression of opposition demonstrations, restrictions on the freedom of movement of opponents, attempts to pass discriminatory bills, the manipulation of the justice system, and arbitrary arrests” he writes.
There’s growing tension in the Democratic Republic of Congo with citizens warning that any attempt to tamper with the election will plunge the country into irretrievable chaos.
