In DRC, Pope Francis calls for end to economic colonialism in Africa

The head of the Roman Catholic Church , pope Francis has demanded an end to what he termed “economic colonialism” in Africa and has urged world leaders to respect the continent.

This was during his first-ever visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday January 31st.

The Pontiff met with the President of the DRC Felix Tshisikedi together with authorities, the civil society, and diplomatic corps to discuss a wide range of issues. He noted that the DRC and Africa deserve to be respected and listened to.
“They deserve to find space and reserve attention. Stop choking Africa. It is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered …May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny,”the Pope declared.

The pontiff described his stay in Africa as “beautiful” and added that he came bearing a message of peace to the DRC and its troubled neighbor South Sudan, both plagued by decades of conflict.
“We cannot grow accustomed to the bloodshed that has marked DRC for decades causing millions of deaths. The current peace processes which greatly encourages needs to be sustained by concrete deeds and commitments should be maintained,” he noted.

The Pope who has visited several African countries since his election in 2013 including some widely troubled countries has been described by some as vital in fostering peace, reconciliation, and inter-faith dialogue as Catholicism is practised throughout the continent.

The Argentine-born Pontiff is expected to visit South Sudan from DRC.