AFRICA/DR CONGO – Catholic priest attacked and robbed

Kinshasa – Father Jean-Richard Ilunga, parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Diocese of Mbujimayi in eastern Kasai Province , was the victim of a brutal robbery on January 24. Father Ilunga was returning from Mbujimayi, where he had collected a donation of $2,000 for the construction of his parish in Kalambayi in the Tshilenge area, when he was attacked by armed bandits. In addition to the $2,000, the criminals also stole 512,000 Congolese francs, his mobile phone, his motorcycle, and his bag, tied the priest up, and left him in critical condition. Father Ilunga was found by passersby and taken to the Saint Albert parish in Kabimba, from where he was transported to Mbujimayi for medical treatment. His condition is stable, and he remains under observation. According to various sources, some of the priest’s staff had asked him to divide the funds intended for the construction of the parish among themselves after collecting them. Given his categorical refusal, it is suspected that they conspired with a group of street bandits to rob and possibly even kill him. The governor of East Kasai, Jean-Paul Mbwebwa Kapo, visited the priest in the hospital and strongly condemned the robbery. The governor then reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening security and ensuring that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

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