On the go?

Get IOL's cool new iPad app...

Christians march for peace in Congo

Comment on this story


iol news pic DRC flag

.

Kinshasa - Thousands of Catholics staged marches in Kinshasa on Wednesday to call for an end to the fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Small groups scattered across the capital, some of them holding Bibles and rosaries, held a minute of silence for the victims of the civil unrest in the Kivu region before breaking into song and prayer.

“No to the balkanisation of the DRC,” read one placard.

Former rebels who had been integrated into the regular army and defected again earlier this year have been battling government troops since May in the eastern DR Congo.

The fighting has displaced more than 200,000 people and sparked fears of a fresh regional escalation, amid allegations the mutineers are supported by neighbouring Rwanda.

The Catholic church wields tremendous influence in the vast resource-rich and conflict-prone central African country. - Sapa-AFP


sign up
 
 

Comment Guidelines



  1. Please read our comment guidelines.
  2. Login and register, if you haven’ t already.
  3. Write your comment in the block below and click (Post As)
  4. Has a comment offended you? Hover your mouse over the comment and wait until a small triangle appears on the right-hand side. Click triangle () and select "Flag as inappropriate". Our moderators will take action if need be.

     

Join us on

IOL-Social networks IOL-Social networks IOL-Social networks IOL-Social networks

Business Directory