The role of religion in politics : the Roman Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the presidency of Joseph Kabila

Abstract

This study examines the role of religion in the DRC’s political sphere from 2015 to 2019 during the second and last term of office of President Joseph Kabila. During these years (2015-2019), the government subjected religious organisations, their followers and leaders, mostly Catholics, and the general population to intimidation, arbitrary arrests and violence because of the Catholic Church’s involvement and support for credible elections. The Catholic Church in the DRC was involved in protest marches after the failed implementation of the Agreement signed between the government and the opposition parties to postpone for a year, the elections. Agreement facilitated and mediated by the Catholic Church in the country at the request of Joseph Kabila’s government. I evaluate the role of the Catholic Church in the DRC using the theological principles set out in the Kairos Document as methodology. This theological document was written by a group of church leaders, activists and theologians to oppose and challenge the Church’s stance with regard to the oppressive apartheid regime. This research is a case study of the relationship of the Catholic Church in the DRC to the struggle for democracy. The Catholic Church in the Congo became one of the strongest voices calling for the 2018 DRC general elections not to be postponed again. These elections were supposed to have been held in December 2016 but were postponed to December 2018. As an accredited election observer, the Catholic Church in the Congo played a crucial role in ensuring that the elections were as free and fair as possible. While the Catholic Church may not be credited with being the sole mover for the elections to be held in 2018, it played a big role. In this study, we shall also be able to indicate how the Catholic Church in the DRC has a prophetic intervention in the recent politics of the DRC.