News
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has urged Joseph Kabia and Paul Kagame, the presidents, respectively, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of the Republic of Rwanda, to "resolve the current crisis in the border area between Congo and Rwanda through dialogue, mediation and peaceful settlement".
In separate letters sent on 24 June to the two presidents, Kobia emphasizes that the WCC is "deeply concerned and troubled by the current developments on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo".
"If the present drift towards hostility is not handled with urgency, utmost care and sensitivity, it is likely to result in another needless war that may have adverse effects on the carefully managed Lusaka Peace Agreement," Kobia warns.
The WCC helped mobilize support for the August 1999 Lusaka peace agreement and the April 2003 Sun City agreement among the region's churches; both agreements were instrumental in restoring peace to the area.
Together with the All African Conference of Churches, the WCC has been actively involved for over a decade in efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace for the Great Lakes region in general and, more particularly, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Additional information on WCC and Rwanda available at: