The Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), Bishop Donatien Nshole, has called for an inclusive national dialogue involving all relevant Congolese actors as a way of addressing the multiple crises facing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking in Kinshasa during a discussion on inclusive dialogue, Nshole said the country continues to face serious challenges, including armed conflict, displacement, poverty, social inequalities and political tensions.
He said these challenges make it difficult for Congolese people to live together peacefully and achieve sustainable development, stressing that finding lasting solutions requires the participation of all sections of society.
“No lasting peace can be built without the effective participation of all actors in the nation. Inclusivity is a fundamental requirement to guarantee the legitimacy and credibility of the dialogue,” Nshole said.
His remarks came as discussions over the proposed national dialogue continue in the DRC. President Félix Tshisekedi announced in July that his government would organize an inclusive national dialogue aimed at strengthening national cohesion and stability. (Présidence RDC)
Nshole has previously argued that dialogue should bring the different actors around the same table, while stressing that inclusivity should not be understood as immunity from accountability. In February, he said the purpose of dialogue was to help end the war, reunify the country and revive democratic processes. (Actualite.cd)
The debate over who should participate in the dialogue has, however, remained contentious.
Some political actors and other stakeholders have questioned the selection of participants in the process, particularly the exclusion of armed groups such as AFC/M23 and CRP/FRP.
In September, the Alliance Citoyenne pour la Patrie (AP), a civil society platform bringing together more than 100 organizations, began consultations in Kinshasa on the proposed national dialogue and national cohesion. Its first discussions included a meeting with Nshole, focusing on inclusivity, the security situation and ways to strengthen cohesion.
Nshole has maintained that a credible dialogue requires broad participation. His position places the question of inclusivity at the centre of ongoing efforts to find political and peaceful solutions to the DRC’s prolonged security and governance challenges.
KIGALI TIMES