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.
