By Ebi Kesiena
Catholic pontiff Pope Francis has urged national and international authorities to take decisive action to halt the bloodshed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, following a week in which dozens of people were killed in the North Kivu province.
Addressing the crowd during his weekly Sunday prayers at St. Peter’s Square, the Pope highlighted that many of the victims were Christians.
“Painful news continues to arrive of battles and massacres occurring in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the pontiff said.
He appealed to national authorities and the international community to do everything possible to stop the violence and protect civilian lives.
According to Pope Francis, many of the victims were Christians and have been killed out of hatred for their faith as he referred to them as “martyrs.”
The Pope also urged prayers for peace in all regions affected by war, specifically mentioning Ukraine, the Holy Land, Sudan, and Myanmar.
In the latest incident in North Kivu province, militants have killed at least 41 people, according to Congo’s government, although civil society groups report a much higher death toll. Authorities attribute the attacks in the Beni region to the Allied Democratic Forces group.
Since the beginning of the month, nearly 150 people have died in North Kivu in killings linked to rebels associated with the Islamic State group.
The eastern DRC has faced armed violence for decades, with more than 120 groups fighting for power, land, and valuable mineral resources.
