Congo bishops foster election dialogue

January 11, 2016

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo—where an estimated 5.4 million people perished in two recent civil wars (1996-97 and 1998-2003)—a delegation of bishops met with the national electoral commission.

“The bishops, as pastors, have begun meetings with political actors and civil society to see what needs to be done to improve the situation regarding dialogue,” said Father Léonard Santedi, the secretary-general of the episcopal conference.

“The electoral calendar must also be consensual and realistic,” he added, as the nation’s president announced that the elections would be moved up from November to March.

53% of the nation’s 81.7 million people are Catholic.

 

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Further information:

• CENI-CENCO : état de lieux du processus électoral en RDC (Agence Congolaise de Presse)
• Bishops are committed to promoting dialogue in view of the 2016 election deadline (Fides)
• Congo Republic Announces Presidential Vote to Be Held March 20 (Bloomberg)