DRC

How are Christians persecuted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

• In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Christians must live with the constant fear of violence breaking out in their communities because of religious extremist groups.
• One such group is the Allied Democratic Forces, which has ties to so-called Islamic State and has been known to purposefully target Christian communities. Believers are victims of massacres, abductions and the razing of churches.

• “It’s horrible what I saw. They killed almost all the people gathered at the place of mourning,” says Abbé Paluku Nzalaming, a parish priest in DRC who witnessed a massacre during a burial ceremony.
• Social pressures also burden Christians, taking the forms of rejection from community life, exclusion from inheritance and pressure to revoke their faith.
• Church activities are regularly disrupted and clergy publicly denounced, fostering a climate of fear in which calls for justice are systematically silenced.

Why are Christians persecuted in DRC?

• It is the objective of extremist groups like ADF to erase the presence of Christians, believing Islam to be the true religion.
• Amidst the violence caused by militant groups, pressure arises even from within families who reject their Christian relatives. Traditions and religious zeal motivate such acts of isolating believers.

Who is particularly vulnerable in DRC?

• The eastern part of DRC is where ADF is most active, so Christians in this region suffer the sharp end of persecution.
• Girls as young as 12 are forced into marriage and are often made victims of domestic abuse. Sadly, shame and rejection by families or communities ensues for those who have experienced sexual violence, forming a cycle of suffering for many women.
• Men face discrimination in employment which can lead to the destabilising of households and the incapacity of churches to advocate for justice in crisis.

What has changed in DRC in the past year?

• The DRC has risen by six places on the WWL this year because of increased pressure and conflict.
• The resurgence of the M23 rebel group and its various captures of territory have caused a domino effect of mass displacement of communities. Any who speak out, especially Christian leaders, run the risk of abduction or disappearance.
• Attacks by ADF continued throughout the year, causing the deaths and displacement of hundreds of believers. In their wake, trauma and fear burden those left alive.

How can I help Christians in DRC? 

Please continue to pray for the church in the DRC. Your support is essential in helping them follow Jesus, no matter the cost.

Pastor Kambale Maliro asks: “Repeated attacks against Christians are affecting their faith and disrupting school activities. We ask our brothers and sisters to pray for the safety and strengthening of Christians.”

Open Doors partners in DRC provide physical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians to enable them to be resilient in the face of persecution through emergency aid, persecution survival training and discipleship.