A Congolese religious of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of
Christ the King School, Sister Clara Agano Kahambu has been killed.
The
incident occurred in the early afternoon of 29 November, at the Mater
Dei parish in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo.
According to what local sources of the Archdiocese told Fides, Sister
Clara was in her office with a student, when a man went up to the
guardian saying he had to enroll his daughter at the religious school.
Once the man entered he threw himself against the nun killing her with a
knife in her neck. The man was captured but the religious died before
reaching hospital.
"This true advocate of women's rights has died at the age of 40 ... She
is added to the long list of human rights defenders who have died in our
province", said a statement sent to Agenzia Fides by the "Justice and
Peace" Diocesan Commission.
The statement denounces the deterioration of security in Bukavu on the
eve of national elections; the resurgence of violence and attacks
against the population in a city full of soldiers and policemen;
circulation of dangerous and armed individuals, some of them mentally
ill, attacking passers-by under the "smiling eyes of law enforcement".
"Justice and Peace" reminds us that "even the Archbishop was attacked in
his home in his sleep".
Sister Clara Agano was born on July 3, 1976 in Luofu parish, Diocese of
Butembo-Beni, daughter of Jean-Pierre and Anastasia Kahindo fifth in a
family with ten children.
On 16 November 2000 in Bukavu she became part of the Congregation of the
Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King School, based in Spalato;
postulant from August 5, 2001, she began her novitiate on August 25,
2002 and professed her perpetual vows on August 2, 2010.
She taught psychology, pedagogy and catechesis. She was Headmaster of
"Marie Madeleine" School in Bukavu and of the "Mater Dei" pastoral
center where she taught poor girls to read and write.