The Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC) is deeply dismayed by the deterioration of the security situation at the borders of their three countries, and more particularly in the North-East part of the DR Congo, with dramatic consequences such as insecurity, death of men, massive population displacements, surge of violence, destruction of infrastructure, incitement to hatred, to name but a few.

In the recommendations sanctioning their 14th Plenary Assembly held in Kinshasa from July 7 to 9, 2022, the prelates of the Catholic Church in the African Great Lakes sub-region, members of ACEAC invite the populations of their sub-region to dissociate themselves from any movement of sedition, often inspired by envy and hatred, as well as from any gesture of homage to exclusion and the spiral of violence.
“We ask supporters of armed movements and their political, social, economic or religious leaders to find other ways of resolving their conflicts rather than resorting to arms, war and the massacres of the innocent”, they add.
They also recommend to political decision-makers to unite their efforts and their energies for the construction of a harmonious living together in the heart of Africa, and to promote the discourse of peace, harmony, unity and fraternity.
Through their mission as pastors, Cardinal Archbishops and Bishops of the ACEAC, gathered from July 7 to 9, 2022 in Kinshasa for the 14th Plenary Assembly, said they were committed to continuing to contribute to peace building in their countries and in the Great Lakes sub-region.
“We ask all the Catholic faithful to organize a Eucharistic celebration for peace, on Sunday, July 31, 2022, on the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola,” requested the members of ACEAC.
DOCICO/CEPR