The ECC supports the establishment of a state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu

 Kinshasa, May 23^th, 2021 (CPA) .- The National Executive Committee of the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) supports the measure of the state of siege in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, established by the President of the Republic Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and the efforts made by the government and the FARDC, with a aview to restoring peace in this part of the country, indicates the report of the 57th ordinary session of this body of the ECC, held from May 19 to 23 at the Mgr Shaumba Center, in the commune of Gombe. According to the moderator of the National Synod of the ECC, Bishop Gabriel Unda who read the declaration during the Pentecost worship at the Protestant Centenary Cathedral, the Church Fathers congratulate the Head of State for the establishment of the state of siege and encourage the government to put in place mechanisms to control and monitor respect for human rights during this state of siege. They also recommend that he strengthen the security measures in the neighboring province of South Kivu where the tranquility of the populations is also threatened. While inviting the militias present in the east of the country to lay down their arms and demobilize, the National Executive Committee announces the upcoming launch of an advocacy plan in favor of the creation of transitional justice, wishing at the same time , that the government accelerate the process of creating said justice. As for the chapter of future elections, the fathers of the ECC, the Catholic Church and those of other religious denominations salute the political will of the leaders to organize the elections in 2023 and recommend that the President of the Republic personally fight against the maneuvers likely to prevent this meeting. To all the institutions, they said in their statement, to act so that the elections are held in satisfactory conditions and on the scheduled date. ECC support for the Islamic religion in the DRC In addition, the National Executive Committee of the ECC expressed its support for the Islamic religion / DRC which saw the assassination of two of its leaders in the city of Beni in North Kivu. While condemning these despicable acts and those committed recently at the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa, the fathers of this Church recommend that the public authorities strengthen security measures in order to prevent killings and similar events. In his sermon, the national president of the ECC, Reverend André-Gédéon Bokundoa-bo Likabe addressed the feast of Pentecost, urging the Protestant faithful to remain persevering in this time when the country is going through a multifaceted crisis. , sometimes maintained by sons of the country, with selfish thoughts, thirsty for money, etc. ACP/