Ruptly
"Christians in the eastern city of Goma marked Easter on Sunday with prayers for peace, as celebrations unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in a region plagued by armed violence. Footage shows worshippers gathering in a church, attending Mass, praying and singing together with the choir, and other performing devotees. "We remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Despite the difficulties we face in the city, we say that we must still pray because prayer is the solution to everything," said Sadiki Lupongo, one of the worshippers. Fighting continues across North and South Kivu as armed groups reposition, leaving the situation on the ground unstable despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. "There are many difficulties, but we always persevere in life, and today's celebration is about coming together and sharing in unity," remarked Blaise Pascal, another catholic Christian. Father Wenceslas Murenzi, Parish Priest of Cathedral, noted, "We have faith, we keep hope, our presence, the majority, the multitude of these people is an eloquent testimony of Christians who keep their faith despite the deaths that have occurred, despite the hardships they endure, despite the lack of banks." Clashes have continued in eastern DRC despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States and an accompanying economic agreement. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel movement, an allegation Kigali denies. On March 2, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and four senior commanders, accusing them of violating the Washington Accords by continuing to support M23 operations, including the capture of the eastern Congolese city of Uvira in December."
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