Congolese Bishop Urges End to Armed Conflict After Massacre

In a recent call for peace, Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku of Butembo-Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) urged national leaders to halt the ongoing armed conflict after a brutal massacre by the Islamist rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The attack, which occurred in early June in North Kivu Province, resulted in around 150 deaths, including at least 80 Christians, and involved widespread atrocities such as rapes, kidnappings, and the destruction of homes and facilities.
Bishop Paluku condemned these actions as severe violations of human dignity and called for an end to the suffering of the Congolese people, particularly in the Diocese of Butembo-Beni. He emphasized that the violence, which has plagued the resource-rich eastern DRC since the 1990s, must cease. He expressed hope that with collective effort, good will prevail over evil.
Pope Francis also condemned the massacres and urged both Congolese authorities and the international community to take decisive action to protect civilians, highlighting the victims as martyrs. The pope’s message was delivered during his Angelus address on June 16th.