A stirring wave of faith and resolve washed over Saint Joseph Cathedral in Goma on Tuesday. Hundreds of Catholics gathered to honor Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a customs officer whose unwavering integrity led to his beatification after his death nearly two decades ago.
Kositi, who was tragically killed in 2007 for refusing a bribe—specifically the clearance of spoiled rice from Rwanda—was laid to rest in the cathedral following a solemn Mass. His remains were moved from a public cemetery in a ceremony filled with prayer, music, and lingering hope.
At the heart of the service, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu emphasized the importance of Kositi’s stand: “Floribert’s life reminds us that doing what’s right may cost everything…but peace and justice are not abstract ideas. They are choices we make, and we must make them together.”
This local tribute follows the Vatican’s formal recognition of Kositi as a martyr of conscience. His beatification was included in the last days of Pope Francis’ papacy. In elevating Kositi, the Church emphasizes how personal sacrifice resonates deeply in communities still scarred by corruption and conflict.
Emotion filled the cathedral sanctuary as congregants donned shirts and traditional attire emblazoned with Kositi’s image, chanting slogans such as “martyr of honesty and moral integrity.” Flags decorated the pews, each a symbol of communal pride and emerging hope.
Aline Minani, a close friend of the late officer, described the meaning of the occasion: “We now have someone in heaven speaking for us…He dreamed of a world where honesty isn’t punished. Today, we’re starting to live that dream.”
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Marie Juudi, another attender, urged Congo’s youth to draw inspiration from Kositi’s stand against bribery. “He rejected corruption to save lives,” she said. “Our country still struggles because of widespread dishonesty.”
Muteba pointed to the ceremony as a clarion call, especially in a region battered by violence and exploitation. Eastern Congo remains fractured, with over 100 armed groups—including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels—continuing to destabilize the area. Most recently, Goma fell under rebel control, intensifying the region’s suffering.
Among the dignitaries at the Mass was Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, highlighting how Kositi’s message transcends conventional divisions.
In this charged atmosphere, Kositi’s beatification offers more than spiritual consolation—it is a beacon. It brings together spiritual leaders, community advocates, and even political actors around the principle that integrity matters.
For the people of Goma, Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi’s story is no longer just a tale of tragedy. It is a narrative of hope, an affirmation that one person’s stand for honesty can shine brightly—even in the darkest places.
