One of the world’s most dangerous places for Christians is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In particular, a brutal attack on the Anglican Church in Boga, DRC, very close to the Uganda border, took place last year. And in 2020, there have been more attacks on Christians. Finally, it seems that the United Nations is taking notice.
Early this month the United Nations made an interesting and welcome statement regarding the horrific situation in the Eastern DRC. In a July 6 report from Defence Web, the UN declared that the “systematic and brutal attacks by Islamist militants in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the last 18 months may amount to war crimes.” It is commendable that the UN has made this declaration. These attacks were carried out by an Islamist Militia known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The ADF also has roots in neighboring Uganda.
Data compiled by the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in the DRC stated that during the time period from January 1,2019 through June 30,2020 a total of 1066 civilians were killed in operations conducted by the ADF. The numbers also show that 176 people were wounded and 717 others were abducted by that group. Fifty-nine children were taken into their ranks, forced to become child soldiers, as well. In addition, the data from UNJHRO indicated that one school, seven health facilities and dozen of homes were looted and destroyed.
One of the key incidents that have drawn interest is the one mentioned above, that took place in August 2019. Anglican Ink provided a report from the Rt. Reverend William Bahemuka, the Bishop of Boga in the Anglican Church with details of this horrific incident. The ADF attacked the village of Boga. More than 200 people – youth, children, and women – were taken hostage by the group. The town’s Anglican Mission Hospital was looted as well.
More than eleven months have passed since this attack and these victims have yet to be seen or heard from. This should be a matter of far more concern than has been demonstrated by the global community and even the churches. It has not drawn the kind of outrage that the incident with the abduction of the Chibok Girls in Nigeria initially drew. (Of course that issue was also neglected and/or forgotten. No more sad Michelle Obamas with #BringBackOurGirls in the past few years.)
The year 2020 began under similar circumstances of Islamic attacks. Incidents in Eringeti, Toko-Toko and Makeke resulted in the deaths of 66 Christians. Included in this slaughter was the Reverend Batsemire, an Archdeacon of the Anglican Church. Archdeacon Batsemire was killed on January 29, 2020 for refusing to denounce his faith.
The Episcopal News Service reported, with information from the Barnabas Fund, on the martyrdom of this heroic Christian:
A spate of violence against Christians has included the murder of the Archdeacon of Eringeti, Ngulongo Year Batsemire of the Anglican Church of the Congo, who was killed for refusing to denounce his faith. The Barnabas Fund reports that he was walking to his fields with his wife when they were surrounded by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who demanded he convert to Islam. When he refused, they killed him.
He was one of 36 Christians murdered by insurgents on Jan. 29 in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier this month, in three days of terror beginning on Feb. 7, another 30 Christians were killed in attacks in the villages of Toko-Toko and Makeke.
These incidents suggest that civilians are being specifically targeted for their beliefs. They may also be targeted because they are a hindrance to the efforts of the ADF, which is aligned with ISIS (the Islamic State), according to an earlier report in the New York Times.
The ADF is just one of several groups that have found or created sanctuary in the Eastern DRC after the wars that have waged on and on for years in the country following the death of former President Mobutu Sese Seko. The fighting officially ended in 2001. But the inability or unwillingness of the government in Kinshasa under both former President Kabila and current President Tshishsekedi to bring peace, despite the presence of UN Peacekeepers, is a major concern. The Christian community is left completely vulnerable and a favorite target of the Islamists.
What actions can be taken? When it comes to the DRC, the ICC (International Criminal Court) should be in the forefront. But the ICC hasn’t taken any concrete steps to achieve justice besides the conviction of Bosco Ntaganda in 2019. Any actions that will be taken in the DRC have yet to be revealed.
There needs to be justice for the people, particularly the Christians, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We know the names of some of the victims of this Islamist jihadist group. Now it is time to learn the identities of those who attack them, not just the name of the group to which they belong, so they can be prosecuted and their victims can be protected.
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