Politics and violence on the streets of Goma

Around 3.30am on August 30th a group of soldiers from the Congolese army opened fire on a prayer meeting inside a church in Goma. More than 40 people were killed and then loaded onto trucks in scenes some say were reminiscent of the Rwandan genocides of the mid 1990s. Many more were injured in the cross fire. 
 
It was a pre-emptive strike against a mystic sect who were planning to march in Goma that day against the UN and other international organisations. The march did go ahead and the death toll rose further. Hundreds were injured, over-running the hospitals, and resulting in yet more unavoidable deaths. By mid-afternoon the demonstrators had been dispersed and an eerie calm returned to the streets. The final toll is significantly higher than 50.
 
Since August 30th the military governor has been recalled to the capital and replaced by a former rebel leader. The army officers who opened fire are facing prosecution for crimes against humanity. But almost 2 weeks later the funerals have still not taken place, as the members of the sect are waiting for the official government response to their demands that the families of the victims receive compensation. 
 
For a personal safety point of view, we are not in any danger as when strikes are called schools and closed and most of the city stays at home until the situation has returned to normal.

But unrest is unlikely to decrease in the run up to the elections on December 20th. At the last elections in 2018 parts of the 2 provinces under the current state of siege weren’t able to vote because of Ebola. This time rebel activity has prevented voter registration as well as distribution of election materials and it is not clear whether the populations under a state of siege will be eligible to vote.
 
In Goma at least 3 members of the diocese of Goma have thrown their hat into the electoral fray, including Madame Claudaline, the wife of the previous bishop. At the last count there were about 300 people contesting the 4 seats for the city.

Training and travel 

July and August are the time for training across the diocese. The two-month school holidays fall during the dry season. Roads that are impassable in the rains become just about passable. So, the heads of department headed to all 4 corners of the diocese to teach and train in conflict-resolution, children’s ministry, school chaplaincy, youth ministry, marriage and family life – all funded by various partners.
 
And then last week we gathered the 60 pastors from across the diocese (including Rev. Caroline, above, our only female pastor at present) for a week-long seminar run by CMS Africa. All of the pastors made it, albeit some having passed through multiple rebel checkpoints. But living in rebel-held territory has become a fact of life in 5 of our 7 archdeaconries.
 
During the seminar we did a health-check across the archdeaconries and the most striking element mentioned time and again was a lack of love, trust and unity between church leaders. At the end of the 6 days we had a moment of corporate repentance and a recommitment to serving each other. Please pray that this bears fruit.
 
Another striking element was is the inaccessibility of many parts of the diocese. One archdeaconry is 2 days motorbike ride from Goma, or 1 hour by plane. One archdeacon has to walk 4 days on foot to visit some of his parishes. I would dearly love to be able to equip each archdeacon with a motorbike for pastoral ministry. It would make such a difference to what they were able to achieve. So far, we have managed to buy one.
 
And then I am planning how and when and whether I can visit the archdeaconries. There is a possibility of reaching 3 by plane, and another by passing through Rwanda and Uganda and then nipping over the border. There are some candidates who have been waiting for confirmation for more than 5 years. 
 
Could you help buy an archdeacon a motorbike so he can visit and encourage his churches please give here and mention ‘motorbike’

How can you pray?

• For justice for those killed on August 30th and for their families

• For peace to return to Goma and to the east

• For us to be able to buy motorbikes for our archdeacons 

• For more churches to partner with the diocese of Goma in evangelism, training and parish development

Thank you, as always to those who read, write, pray and give
Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen