DRC: Diocese Torn Apart by Ethnic Conflicts
In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Diocese of Wamba has been immobilized for over a year. Bishop Emmanuel Ngona Ngotsi, appointed by Pope Francis on January 17, 2024, has been unable to officially take possession of his diocese due to strong opposition from some local priests and laypeople.
Background of the Diocese
Established by Pope Pius XII in 1949, the Diocese of Wamba spans 26,265 square kilometers near the borders of South Sudan and Uganda. It serves about 365,000 Catholics residing in 25 parishes, tended by 58 priests. While eastern Congo often suffers from armed conflict, Wamba itself has avoided direct violence, though its stability is fragile because of porous borders and conflicts related to mining activities.
Bishop Emmanuel Ngona Ngotsi
Bishop Ngona Ngotsi, a member of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), follows Bishop Janvier Kataka Luvete, a Zambian who retired in 2024 after 30 years of service. Originally from Bambu-Mines in the nearby Diocese of Bunia, Ngona Ngotsi worked in Niger and Burkina Faso before returning to the DRC.
He was consecrated bishop on September 15, 2024, in Kinshasa by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of the capital. Opposition members regard him as an
“outsider,” not from the Wamba region.
Current Challenges
- The diocese remains paralyzed due to local resistance.
- Ethnic tensions and opposition obstruct Bishop Ngona Ngotsi’s canonical authority.
- Although spared direct war, the region's fragile security is undermined by border and mining conflicts.
"Bishop Ngona Ngotsi has not yet been able to take canonical possession of his see due to fierce opposition from some local priests and faithful."
Author's summary: The Diocese of Wamba in the DRC is facing deep ethnic divisions that hinder the new bishop's leadership, reflecting ongoing instability in this border region despite an absence of active warfare.