Seventy Christians were beheaded in a Protestant church in the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In response to the tragedy, the Hungary Helps Agency and the Reformed Church in Hungary have joined forces to provide financial assistance to the victims' families. The two organisations will channel five million forints each, altogether 26.000 USD through the local partner of Hungary Helps, the Planetrise Association for Culture and Environmental Protection, which will reach out directly to the seventy affected families.
Twenty Christians have been forcefully expelled out of their homes and captured by gunmen in the predominantly Christian community of Mayba, in Lubero Territory, North Kivu. The others, who stayed in their homes, trusted to the streets after a few hours before the militants struck again, taking fifty more people hostage. In all, seventy hostages - mostly women, children and elderly people - were taken by the militants to the village of Kasanga, where they were beheaded in the Protestant church. The massacre is believed to have been carried out by gunmen from the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The presence of the ADF has made the situation in the area unpredictable, with several of the victims' relatives unable to bury their family members who died in the attack. Many Christians have reportedly fled the area and continue to do so.
“This is the worst attack on Christians in a year and a half, and the severity of the attack is compounded by the fact that the world has barely paid attention to it," told Azbej Tristan, the state secretary for the aid of persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program. He added that the Hungarian government felt obliged to help in this situation. He recalled that Hungary was the first country to launch a governmental aid programme to help persecuted Christians, and thanked the Reformed Church in Hungary and the Reformed people for having complemented the Hungarian government's donation of HUF 5 million with a further HUF 5 million, bringing the total Hungarian aid to HUF 10 million.
“The Hungarian donation is also unique in that it is a European country expressing solidarity with persecuted Christians in Africa," said Tristan Azbej, emphasising that it is in the interest of Hungary and Europe to support stabilisation in Congo. The DRC, with a population of 100 million, is also a major source country for migration. The donations of the Reformed Church in Hungary and the Hungary Helps Agency are intended not only to provide immediate humanitarian aid, but also to assist families to make a long-term living and to prosper in their homeland. The donor organisations recommended to use the financial aid for the purchase of seeds, to start small businesses or other self-sustaining activities.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by recurrent conflicts for decades, fueled by complex geopolitical and economic interests. The current conflict traces its roots back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which saw an influx of refugees and armed groups into eastern Congo.
To gain deeper insight into the causes of this violence, its consequences, and the role of the church in promoting peace and reconciliation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches spoke with the Rev. Isaac Kalonji of the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa.