The Archbishop of Kisangani, Monsignor Djadi Léonard, and the faithful of the archdiocese can finally breathe an air of relief and comfort. Indeed, after years of waiting and fighting to obtain compensation for the damage caused by the six-day war in June 2000, an important milestone was reached this Thursday, October 24, 2024. In the presence of President Félix Tshisekedi and at the headquarters of FRIVAO, the Special Fund for Reparation and Compensation for Victims of Uganda’s Illicit Activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Catholic Church received significant compensation.
This symbolic moment when Monsignor Djadi Léonard received a check for USD 2,500,000 from the Head of State does not only represent a financial act, but also a recognition of the suffering endured by the religious community of Kisangani. Numbers and words can hardly express the magnitude of the losses suffered by the Archdiocese, with more than 20 parishes, convents, schools and other buildings destroyed in the conflict.
The reaction of the auxiliary bishop expresses both gratitude and hope. The joy of witnessing the first step of reparation, but also gratitude to those who made it possible, from FRIVAO to the Ministry of Justice and the Head of State himself. It is an emotional moment, where the scars of the past are finally beginning to receive a soothing balm.
The legal context, with the judgment of the International Court of Justice and the payments owed by Uganda to the DRC, adds an additional dimension to this event. The victims and communities affected by the horrors of war see a form of justice being put in place, even years after the tragic events. Each tranche of compensation represents a step towards healing, towards rebuilding broken lives and desecrated holy places.
On this momentous day, when money becomes a symbol of reconciliation and reparation, it is hard not to feel a twinge of hope. Monsignor Djadi Léonard’s words resonate like a prayer for the victims to regain their dignity and joy, for tears to be dried and wounds to heal. It is in these moments when solidarity and compassion triumph that humanity shows its capacity to transcend pain and build a better future.