Cardinal Ambongo targeted by judicial inquiry in DR Congo

A judicial inquiry has been opened against Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking a new episode in the increasingly tense relations between the Kinshasa Archbishop and Congolese authorities. 

In a letter dated April 27, Firmin Mvonde Mambu, the prosecutor general of the Court of Cassation, accused the prelate of making « seditious statements… likely to discourage soldiers of the armed forces of the Republic who are fighting on the front lines, but also inciting rebels and other invaders of the local populations already bruised by years of destabilization. » He addressed the letter to the prosecutor of Kinshasa’s Matete district, in order to initiate a judicial inquiry against the archbishop.

Confronted with « behaviors » which Mvonde Mambu described as « infringing acts, against and contrary to the country, its people and its leaders and undermining the laws of the Republic, » the prosecutor had previously summoned the Archbishop of Kinshasa on April 25, to explain his statements « made during press briefings, interviews, and other sermons. »

Cardinal Ambongo was reported to have « declined the invitation. » Contacted by La Croix International, the cardinal’s office indicated that he did not intend to respond to the letter from the Kinshasa prosecutor’s office. « It’s just a diversion, » said one of his close associates. « The country’s news should remain dominated by the potential misappropriations of funds allocated to the construction of wells. »

Easter homily

Among Cardinal Ambongo’s critical statements was his highly political homily during the Easter Mass on March 31. He spoke against the insecurity in eastern DR Congo and specifically on the joining of certain officials from the former regime – that of president Joseph Kabila, in power from 2001 to 2019 – with the rebel troops of the M23, a Congolese rebel military group. « We can call them traitors, they have taken the enemy’s side, » he said. « But the fundamental question is, why did these people act this way? It’s because here (in DR Congo), we continue to make gestures that hurt others, that weaken national communion, that exclude others. »

These remarks displeased the party of current President Félix Tshisekedi, which did not hide its dissatisfaction and demanded explanations. « The cardinal’s words – I hope he will provide clarification – can be perceived as encouragement, as moral support for those who choose to take up arms to seize power, while we have been in a cycle for two years, trying to get out of it, » protested government spokesman Patrick Muyaya. « This is not a rebellion, it is an aggression established by a foreign country. For compatriots to think that they should align themselves with those who kill other Congolese, under the pretext that things are not going well in the country, there is a real problem, » he said.

Showdown with the government

Cardinal Ambongo’s critical stance towards President Tshisekedi’s entourage is not new. Since the former opposition leader came to power in 2019, he has not hesitated to criticize the ruling party. In a message published to celebrate Congo’s independence day on June 30, 2020, the Archbishop of Kinshasa severely attacked the coalition then formed by Tshisekedi’s party with that of former president Kabila.

« This coalition knows very well how it trampled on the will of the people to get where it is, » he said, referring to the Congolese Catholic Church’s position in 2019, which questioned the results of the general elections. Cardinal Ambongo hammered the point by comparing the president’s regime to « Jacob, who stole the blessing meant for his elder brother Esau. »

Since then, relations have failed to improve. In 2021, a group of young people – reportedly close to the government according to several witnesses – showed up at the archbishop’s residence in Kinshasa, chanting and making derogatory remarks and committing acts of vandalism. These incidents occurred after the Catholic Church boycotted negotiations for the appointment of the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) – which falls under the jurisdiction of religious denominations.

A new government cabinet

On April 1 this year, the appointment of the first female prime minister in the DRC, Judith Tuluka Suminwa, did not sit well with the cardinal. Ambongo criticized the time taken by the president after his reelection in January to appoint a prime minister tasked with forming a government cabinet.

« Normally, the composition of the government should not take much time, » he remarked before criticizing the negotiations between political actors to obtain powerful political positions. « In Congo, the only worthwhile job is politics, everyone wants to be in government, in parliament, otherwise they have nothing. This situation really creates anxiety among us, » he lamented.