The year 2026 marks a double symbolic milestone and is of particular importance. She celebrates,
the centenary of the birth of Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. (1926), and,
On the other hand, the thirtieth anniversary of his assassination and his birth in heaven (1996). Archbishop
of Bukavu, recognized as Servant of God, Bishop Christophe Munzihirwa remains one of the
great prophetic figures in the contemporary history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Celebrate the memory of the Servant of God, murdered in October 1996 for denouncing the invasion
of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as the instrumentalization of
of political violence as a mode of governance in the Great Lakes region, constitutes a
responsibility to history, a Christian and citizen duty to the present, and a light lit
to enlighten the future we are walking towards.
Thirty years after the assassination of Bishop Christophe Munzihirwa, S.J., the Republic
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in its eastern region, remains marked by a
chronic instability, a deep crisis of living together and continuous degradation
social, economic, political, security and moral conditions. Echoing the inquiry of our Bishops Fathers, gathered in the Extraordinary Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) from June 18 to 20, 2026, echoes in our consciences this call that has become urgent: « The Nation is at risk! Let's draw our fronts, let's take the best of momentum. » Therefore, commemorating the prophetic sacrifice of the archbishop of Bukavu, who died for denouncing the dynamics of violence that threatened the integrity, sovereignty and future of our country, is not only a duty of remembrance. This commemoration is a privileged opportunity to analyse the systemic disruptions and profound changes that continue to make the DRC the scene of human and environmental tragedies, but also to discern the paths that could lead to a just and lasting peace.
This Symposium aims to contribute to a thorough reflection on thought, the struggle for dignity
and the values advocated by Bishop Christophe MUNZIHIRWA, to be analysed objectively
and to propose consensual ways for peaceful coexistence and the emergence of lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
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