Source: Christian Today, February 19, 2025
The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to deteriorate, with more than 2,000 people killed since M23 rebels seized the eastern city of Goma.
The ongoing conflict has seen millions of people displaced from their homes and many thousands of people wounded.
M23 is allegedly backed by the DRC’s eastern neighbor, Rwanda. Rwanda is accused of wanting to annex the DRC’s mineral reach eastern territories. In turn, Rwanda has accused the DRC of sponsoring anti-government militias in Rwanda and of harboring fugitives responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
On the ground, Catholic missionary Father Marcelo Oliveira has said the situation is increasingly desperate, with hospitals becoming crowded and even refugee camps becoming targets for attack.
Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity, Father Marcelo said that distributing emergency aid was becoming increasingly difficult as the Goma airport has been closed, its control tower vandalized, and hardware stolen.
The missionary also said that over a hundred female prisoners in Goma’s central prison were raped after male prisoners escaped during the fighting and broke into the women’s wing. He added that many women and children have been killed in the violence.
Despite the horrors he has witnessed, Father Marcelo said that the Church would remain with the people during their time of suffering.
“We keep our eyes set on Jesus, leading his people.”
Read the full story or go to the source, Aid to the Church in Need.
See also Pray for the DRC from INcontext Ministries. It includes a graphic, video, and prayer points.