Catholic Church Says It Was First to Denounce Rwanda’s Support for AFC/M23

KINSHASA February 24, 2026 - The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reiterated that it was among the first institutions to denounce Rwanda’s alleged support for the AFC/M23 rebellion operating in eastern DRC, while also announcing a shift in its pastoral approach to address the ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes region. In a statement issued Monday, Bishop Donatien Nshole, Secretary General of the Congolese National Episcopal Conference (CENCO), said the Church had already raised concerns about Rwanda’s backing of AFC/M23 rebels in previous official declarations. Nshole stressed that statements made in the past by Archbishop Fulgence Muteba of Lubumbashi and other members of CENCO had clearly referenced Rwanda’s involvement, rejecting claims that the Church had only recently taken such a position. “The Catholic Church is not new to this position. If you review CENCO’s documents, you will see that the bishops, including Archbishop Fulgence Muteba, have mentioned Rwanda several times,” Nshole said, emphasizing that the Church had also conducted international advocacy on the issue. He added that it would be misleading to suggest that this was the first time the Catholic Church had publicly denounced Rwanda’s alleged support for the armed group. According to the prelate, the Church has recently adopted what he described as a “pastoral shift” after repeated condemnations of the conflict failed to produce the expected results. Instead of focusing solely on denunciations, the Church is now promoting a “social pact for living together” aimed at encouraging dialogue and reconciliation in the DRC and across the Great Lakes region. “This does not mean that we have remained silent,” Nshole explained. “We are choosing a different approach in order to give national dialogue a chance. It is part of a broader national strategy.” The remarks come amid ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC, where AFC/M23 fighters continue to clash with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and allied Wazalendo militias. The issue has also revived debate following criticism directed at Archbishop Fulgence Muteba after he traveled to Goma last July to preside over a devotional mass honoring Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui. The visit drew scrutiny because it occurred in a region under the control of AFC/M23 forces. Speaking during the closing of a CENCO standing committee meeting, Muteba noted that the socio-pastoral situation in the country remains deeply affected by recurring insecurity, particularly in eastern provinces where government forces and their allies continue to confront AFC/M23 fighters supported by Rwanda. The renewed statements from the Catholic Church have sparked widespread public debate, with some observers questioning whether this marks a new phase in the Church’s engagement with the conflict, while Church officials insist that their position has remained consistent for years.