The Vatican on Sunday beatified Floribèrt Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a 26-year-old Congolese customs official murdered in 2007 for refusing a bribe to allow spoiled rice into the Democratic Republic of Congo. His defiance of corruption and commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens has made him a powerful symbol of moral courage in a country plagued by endemic graft. Kositi, who worked for Congo’s customs quality control office, refused to approve the transport of rancid rice from Rwanda into the city of Goma. He was kidnapped and killed shortly after his refusal, a crime widely believed to be retaliation for his stand. On Sunday, his beatification was held at Rome’s St. Paul Outside the Walls basilica and presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
The event drew hundreds of Congolese pilgrims and members of Rome’s Congolese Catholic community. Many wore T-shirts bearing Kositi’s image and waved Congolese flags as they celebrated his recognition as a martyr. Pope Francis officially declared Kositi a martyr of the faith in 2024, emphasizing a broader view of martyrdom that includes those who die for acts of justice grounded in Christian ethics. Kositi’s beatification comes at a painful moment for Congo. The eastern region around Goma continues to suffer from brutal conflict, with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels capturing key territory and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, thousands have been killed and over 6.5 million people are now internally displaced due to conflict in the region.
In this context, many Congolese see Kositi as a beacon of hope. “Floribèrt is a role model for all young people,” said his friend Aline Manani. “He said ‘No’ in the name of the Gospel.” Goma Bishop Willy Ngumbi echoed those sentiments, pointing to the systemic corruption that stifles progress in the DRC. “Our country almost holds the gold medal for corruption,” he said. “If we could learn from this young man’s life, it would be a powerful step forward.” Transparency International ranked Congo 163rd out of 180 countries in its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 20 out of 100—indicating deeply rooted corruption. Pope Francis, during his 2023 visit to Congo, denounced the “economic colonialism” that feeds exploitation and injustice in the region. If canonized, Kositi would become the first saint from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
