Catholic Church Warns Prolonged Conflict Could Make Eastern DRC Harder to Recover

Kinshasa, June 23, 2026 - The Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), Msgr. Donatien Nshole, has warned that the longer the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, the more difficult it will become for the country to regain control of occupied territories.

Speaking during a live discussion, Nshole rejected accusations that the Catholic Church supports armed groups, insisting that the Church has consistently condemned rebellion and repeatedly urged the government to invest in building a strong national army.

He expressed concern that the Congolese state appears increasingly unable to safeguard its territorial integrity, warning that prolonged occupation allows parallel administrations to become more deeply established, making future recovery of the territories more challenging.

Nshole defended the Church's continued call for dialogue, saying it is rooted in Catholic teaching that war cannot provide a lasting solution to the crisis.

He urged all parties to avoid allowing the conflict to drag on, warning that continued delays could increase the risk of permanently losing parts of the country's territory.