The Diocese of Bukavu, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the border with Rwanda, currently faces a dramatic situation where residents feel abandoned by the international community. The vicar-general of the diocese, Father Floribert Bashimbe, explained that a conflict of interests over the extraction of coltan and gold obscures the spiral of violence consuming the area. The Rwanda-backed M23 armed rebel group invaded North Kivu province in 2021 and captured Goma in 2024, turning it into its operational headquarters and leading to the closure of local parishes. On 15 February 2025, the rebel forces expanded into neighboring Bukavu.
The impact of the M23 rebel occupation
The presence of the M23 has brought immense insecurity, halting rural activities and ending small-scale mining because the group now directly controls the natural resources. In certain northern areas, the rebels are actively replacing the local population. The only systems that continue to function under their administration are business-related, as they have established a structured system charging taxes, customs, and insurance within the mining regions where they extract gold and coltan. Despite the occupation, relations between the Church and the M23 forces remain cordial for now, with the rebels respecting religious vehicles and infrastructure. Furthermore, when faithful face arbitrary arrests, the Church successfully intervenes to find a solution.
The pastoral reality of the Diocese of Bukavu
To prevent church buildings and houses from being seized by strangers, priests in Bukavu have been instructed to remain in their villages. While 30 out of the 44 parishes in the Diocese of Bukavu are actively losing parishioners, the clergy remain steadfast as vital bearers of hope. Father Floribert highlights the profound meaning behind this endurance:
“When they people hear the church bells, they know there is life in the village”.
The conflict has also caused severe isolation from the rest of the country. Many seminarians who come from other regions have been unable to leave for their holidays, preventing them from seeing their families for an entire year. Stranded under M23 control, these students have required basic material aid, including clothes, school supplies, and toiletries.
ACN’s crucial role in strengthening the Church
The Congolese population is deeply exhausted and impoverished by a cycle of violence where the country’s rich minerals are exploited without ever benefiting the local citizens. In these regions neglected by the government, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) acts as the primary benefactor. In 2025, ACN financed 258 projects across the DRC. This essential funding is primarily directed toward the construction and renovation of religious buildings, spiritual retreats, the continuous formation of priests and nuns, and the training of future priests supported by missionary offerings.
