The podium installed at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the meeting of Pope Francis with the young faithful of the Catholic Church, collapsed on Monday, January 30, after heavy rains that fell on the capital around 3am.
On the occasion of his three-day visit to the DRC, from Tuesday January 31, the sovereign pontiff should address, Thursday February 2, more than 80,000 young people and catechists, on this platform erected within the sports temple .
However, the authorities reassured that everything was ready to welcome the pope. Both the Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, the Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, and other members of the government visited, on January 28, sites fitted out for the occasion.
After this incident of the collapse of the rostrum which is making headlines on the web, Kinshasa ensures that it is doing everything possible to restore this podium to its original condition.
Some comments point the finger at the quality of the equipment acquired for the work, thereby insinuating embezzlement of money on the part of some officials.
Whatever one says, Kinshasa is in the preparations to offer a good reception to the pope. In the presidential garden, a device has been set up for a meeting between the Sovereign Pontiff, on the evening of his arrival, and diplomats, heads of political institutions, civil society actors, as well as Congolese opposition actors.
The authorities decreed a day off on the morning of Wednesday, February 1 to allow the faithful of Kinshasa to take part in the papal mass scheduled at Ndolo airport.
The pope’s visit comes in a context where the DRC is facing enormous security challenges in the east of its territory. The M23 rebellion controls a few localities in this eastern part of the country. Some expect to discover the words that the Sovereign Pontiff reserves for the Congolese.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1028 of 01/30/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
