76 priests of the Diocese of Bunia have issued a powerful statement condemning the unrelenting violence which has only deteriorated, with Catholic communities bearing the brunt of heinous attacks.
Newsroom (22/08/2025, Gaudium Press )In an urgent cry for justice, 76 priests of the Diocese of Bunia have issued a powerful statement on August 20, 2025, condemning the unrelenting violence that continues to ravage Ituri Province. The region, situated in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been under a state of siege since May 2021, alongside neighboring North Kivu, in a bid to quell the chaos sown by armed militias. Yet, the priests assert, the situation has only deteriorated, with Catholic communities bearing the brunt of heinous attacks.
The latest outrage occurred on the night of August 19-20, 2025, when armed assailants desecrated the “Propédéutique Saint Kizito” oratory in Bunia. The attackers violated the sanctity of the tabernacle, scattering consecrated hosts on the ground, shattering windows, and issuing threats to the priests present. The priests’ statement notes with dismay that this sacrilege unfolded “despite the strong presence of law enforcement officers in the neighborhood,” raising troubling questions about the effectiveness of security measures.
This incident follows a series of brutal assaults on Catholic parishes. On July 21, CODECO militias targeted the “Saint Jean de Capistran” parish in Lopa, leaving devastation in their wake. Even more horrific was the July 26-27 attack by ADF Islamists on the Blessed Anuarite parish in Komanda, where nearly 50 lives were lost, and at least 40 young people were abducted. The violence has spread like wildfire, engulfing Nizi, Iga Barrière, Tchomia, Nyamamamba, and Boga, forcing countless residents to flee in search of safety.
In their statement, the priests of Bunia denounce the “ineffectiveness” of the security forces, accusing them of downplaying the crisis with terms like “provocation” and “retaliation” to mask their “incompetence and complicity.” The clergy describe as “unacceptable” the tendency to scapegoat local youth for the insecurity. More alarmingly, they allege that law enforcement, in collusion with militias, is perpetrating murders, erecting illegal roadblocks, making arbitrary arrests—including of minors—and looting the possessions of innocent civilians.
The priests also report facing “slander and verbal threats” from military authorities, who accuse the Church of sheltering members of the Convention pour la Révolution Populaire (CRP) militia. The clergy vehemently reject these claims, asserting that the Catholic Church, in its prophetic mission, has become a target of “orchestrated attacks” by military forces acting in “criminal complicity” with groups like CODECO, which was implicated in the Lopa parish attack alongside regular army soldiers.
The state of siege, intended to restore peace, has “visibly and seriously failed,” the priests declare. Far from achieving its goal, it has allowed armed groups to multiply and arm themselves more heavily. The Diocese of Bunia calls for an end to this spiral of violence and impunity, urging authorities to uphold their duty to protect the people of Ituri. In the face of such darkness, the Church remains a beacon of hope, steadfast in its mission to speak truth to power and advocate for the afflicted.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Agenzia Fides
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