Killed for refusing bribes, Kositi becomes a symbol of integrity and Congo’s potential first saint
GOMA, DRC / VATICAN CITY – Catholics across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the global faith community rejoiced on Sunday as Floribèrt Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a young Congolese customs official killed for his commitment to justice and honesty, was beatified by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
In a ceremony watched live by thousands from homes and churches across Goma, his hometown, Kositi was officially declared “Blessed”, a key step in the Catholic Church’s path toward sainthood. The 26-year-old was abducted and murdered in 2007 after he refused to accept a bribe to allow spoiled rice from Rwanda into Congo through the border.
His story has since become a beacon of moral courage, and on Sunday, his sacrifice was elevated to global recognition in a rare and deeply symbolic moment for the Catholic Church in Africa.
“It’s a joyful feeling to be able to follow this ceremony live. We don’t know how to express it,” said Justine Kanyere Kavuo, a relative of Kositi who watched the event from home in Goma.
“We’re happy because today, the universal Church recognised him as a martyr of honesty and justice.”
Martyr of Integrity
Kositi worked in the Congolese government’s customs quality control office in North Kivu. Known among colleagues for his integrity and religious devotion, he came under threat after blocking the cross-border transport of rancid rice that would have posed a health risk to some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
In July 2007, after refusing multiple bribes and standing firm in his official duty, he was abducted by unknown assailants. His body was later discovered in a forest, a tragic end that left the Goma community in mourning—but also in quiet awe of his bravery.
His death drew the attention of the local diocese and human rights groups, who began pushing for his recognition as a martyr. In 2024, Pope Francis formally acknowledged his sacrifice as one made in defense of Christian values, a key Vatican requirement for beatification.
“He gave his life rather than participate in corruption,” said Célestin Kanyabiriri, chair of the local organising committee for Sunday’s beatification celebration in Goma.
“The fact that he was picked up in our diocese, for me, is a sign that the Lord is inviting us to be apostles of honesty and moral integrity, especially in matters of financial management.”
Joy in Goma
Back in Goma, the beatification was more than just a religious ceremony—it became a national celebration of moral resilience. In preparation for the event, the local church erected giant posters of Kositi across the city, and prayer vigils were held in his memory.
Thousands gathered at churches for mass viewings of the live-streamed Vatican ceremony, while outside, vendors sold commemorative cloths and images of the man now hailed as a “national hero” and potential first Congolese saint.
“Those who killed him thought they had ended his life, but God Almighty raised him up, and that is our joy,” said Olive Njemba, a Catholic faithful who purchased a cloth bearing Kositi’s image.
Across generations, from schoolchildren to elders, the narrative of Kositi’s bravery is being embraced as a source of inspiration in a country where public corruption remains a serious challenge.
“His story gives us hope,” said 18-year-old Jean-Marie Kabuyaya, a student at a Catholic high school in Goma. “He teaches us that truth and honesty can still be lived—even if it costs us everything.”
A Rare African Beatification
Beatifications in Africa remain relatively rare, especially for laypersons and government officials. Kositi’s case is notable because he was not a priest or religious figure, but a civil servant who died defending public health and justice.
His case resonates deeply in the DRC, where systemic corruption, weak institutions, and conflict have long undermined public trust in leadership and law enforcement.
“By recognising Kositi as a martyr, the Vatican is also sending a message to African society—that moral courage and integrity in public life are not only needed, but sacred,” said Father Théophile Mbayo, a theology lecturer at the Catholic University of Bukavu.
Path to Sainthood
Kositi’s beatification places him on the formal path toward canonization, the final step to becoming a Catholic saint. For that to happen, the Church typically requires proof of a miracle attributed to the intercession of the beatified person—such as a medically verified healing.
The local church in Goma has already begun collecting testimonies and reports of prayers answered in Kositi’s name, hoping to submit a future case to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
If canonized, he would become the first officially recognized saint from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country of more than 45 million Catholics—one of the largest Catholic populations in Africa.
Global Significance
Sunday’s beatification was presided over by Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded Pope Francis earlier this year. In his homily, the pontiff called Kositi’s story “a profound example of Christian witness in the face of evil” and encouraged young people worldwide to resist the temptation of “bribery, lies, and fear.”
“The Church needs examples of courage like Floribèrt Bwana Chui. He stood not just against corruption but for human dignity,” the Pope said during the ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The beatification also highlights the Vatican’s growing focus on global South communities, especially those in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as vital sources of faith renewal and leadership.
A New Icon for Congo
Kositi’s life and death are now being incorporated into religious education and national memory in Congo. Catholic schools are developing materials on his legacy, and civic groups are calling for a national day of remembrance in his honor.
“Kositi’s sacrifice belongs not only to the Church but to Congo’s future,” said activist Chantal Kasereka, who attended a prayer service in his memory.
“He shows us that another kind of civil service is possible—one rooted in truth, compassion, and moral strength.”
As Catholics across the world celebrate the beatification of this humble customs official from Goma, his name is now etched into the spiritual and ethical imagination of a continent longing for justice, courage, and saints who walk among its people.
