Kinshasa: In a powerful and deeply concerned statement, the Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have voiced dismay and moral outrage following the death sentence handed down to former President Joseph Kabila Kabange by the nation’s High Military Court. The ruling, which accuses Kabila of war crimes, sexual violence, torture, conspiracy, and support for terrorism, has sent shockwaves across the country, reopening old wounds in a nation long scarred by conflict and political instability.
Responding under the umbrella of the Conférence Épiscopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO), the Catholic Bishops expressed that they were “horrified by the verdict” and reaffirmed the Church’s unwavering stance against the death penalty.
In their statement released on Monday, October 6, the Bishops reminded the government and judiciary that “the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo safeguards the sanctity of human life and enshrines it as a fundamental right that must never be violated.”
They emphasized that no crime, no matter how grave, justifies capital punishment a position rooted in both Christian teaching and the Gospel’s call to mercy and forgiveness.
“The death penalty and its retributive logic are not compatible with the Gospel,” the Bishops declared, denouncing the ruling as a step backward for justice and human rights in the country.
The sentencing of the former president comes amid ongoing armed conflict in eastern Congo, where clashes between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel movement have intensified throughout 2025. The violence has displaced thousands and led to the capture of key cities such as Goma and Bukavu, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Against this backdrop, CENCO warned that political retribution and militarized justice risk further destabilizing the fragile national fabric. The Bishops cautioned that such measures could inflame political divisions, urging instead for reconciliation and restraint.
“In a country torn by years of violence, justice must heal, not destroy,” the statement read.
The Bishops reaffirmed their 2024 position opposing the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty, which has been in effect in the DRC since 2003. They recalled that the Church consistently advocates for “a justice that restores rather than eliminates, and that promotes life over vengeance.”
CENCO described the death sentence of Kabila as a symbol of deep political fractures, warning that justice must never become an instrument of retaliation or political elimination.
“Our justice system must rise above vengeance. The death penalty cannot build peace; it only perpetuates cycles of hatred,” the prelates insisted.
In their appeal, the Bishops urged all political actors across party lines and institutions to embrace inclusive dialogue as the only sustainable path toward peace and national unity.
“Considering the concern raised by the High Military Court’s decision and the urgent need to strengthen national cohesion, we call upon all actors who love and serve the Democratic Republic of Congo to pursue political solutions grounded in dialogue, truth, and peace,” the Bishops urged.
They emphasized that dialogue remains “the best way to address the root causes of Congo’s crises”, restoring trust, stability, and territorial integrity. CENCO called for respect of previously signed peace agreements and urged both local and international partners to remain engaged in promoting reconciliation.
The Bishops’ statement concluded with an impassioned plea for unity and compassion, asserting that the people of Congo have endured too much suffering to bear new divisions.
“We commend the efforts of institutions and international partners working to restore peace in our nation. Yet, these efforts will remain futile unless Congolese political actors act with integrity, respect agreements, and engage in sincere dialogue,” they wrote.
In the face of political upheaval and renewed tensions, the Catholic Church a longstanding voice of conscience in the DRC has once again positioned itself as a moral compass, calling for justice tempered by mercy and leadership anchored in peace, not vengeance.
As the debate over Joseph Kabila’s fate continues to stir the nation, the Bishops’ words echo a deeper truth: that Congo’s fragile democracy can only endure if its leaders, courts, and citizens choose the harder path that of forgiveness, reconciliation, and life.