“The world has forgotten the Congo. We need the world to remember.” – Désiré Mukanirwa
On Saturday 11 July 2020 came the devastating news from DRC that Bishop Désiré Mukanirwa had died, having been unwell for some 2 weeks with COVID 19.
Just a few hours before his passing, he declared ‘Jesus is alive … the tomb is empty’.
‘In the middle of the Ebola pandemic he brought hope in a place many wrote off as hopeless. Now a second pandemic, COVID-19, has killed Anglican Bishop Désiré Mukanirwa, of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’ wrote John Sandeman, ‘Eternity’ Editor-in-Chief.
Malcolm Richards, Bishop for International Relations in Sydney, wrote: ‘With degrees in theology and development studies, Désiré combined his love for evangelism with a concern for the marginalised in Congolese society – the poorest of the poor – widows, orphans and victims of rape in war.’
‘The joy and dedication he brought to his work in [the] context of disease, civil war, poverty and building [a] new diocese was astonishing and inspiring’ tweeted Canadian Anglican writer Jesse Zink.
He leaves his wife Claudaline and 4 children. Claudaline has committed to continue the work amongst the victims of abuse and poverty.
Bishop Désiré was born on 22 August 1968 in Kalehe, South Kivu. In 1997, he graduated from the Anglican University of Congo. Ten years later he studied at the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey, Switzerland, earning a post-graduate degree in ecumenical studies.
Bishop Désiré was the first Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of North Kivu from 2016.
