Will there be an end to Congolese suffering?

Kinshasa -- Congo's bishops urged calm as upcoming presidential elections neared. But violence broke out after the first round of voting. Interim President Joseph Kabila received 45% of votes cast, while interim Vice-President, and former warlord, Jean-Pierre Bemba received about 20%. The personal armies of both candidates clashed shortly after the preliminary results were released and at least 30 people were killed.

The bishops insisted that the two candidates had to show their commitment to rid themselves of their armed militia, since the people could not participate in a ballot that could again plunge the country into violence. In the final phase, Joseph Kabila won the election with 58% of votes cast (Reuters, Nov. 16, 2006). The election was monitored by international and United Nations observers. Joseph Bemba, reluctantly, accepted the role of leader of the opposition on November 27 (BBC).

Bukavu -- An air of mystery still hangs over the death of Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, a decade after his death on October 29, 1996, during a military attack on the city. A local Justice and Peace Commission declared that the people have a right to know who committed the crime. A monument was dedicated to his memory, and thousands of people took part in a march and celebration of his life at the cathedral on the anniversary of his death. The archbishop often spoke out in defence of the voiceless, such as the Rwandan refugees and in defence of democracy.

It is estimated that four million people have died in Congo from hunger and illness during the wars of 1998-2003, and their aftermath.