The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports easing conditions for access to civil marriage in the Democratic Republic of Congo 

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in collaboration with the National Council of Religions for Peace (CNRP) and the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children, accompanied several couples during the celebration of their civil marriage, which took place at the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Palais du Peuple's performance hall was prepared to host 100 couples, and 98 had their marriages celebrated in the presence of civil, political, and religious authorities. The event aimed to address the financial difficulties related to the conditions of access to marriage that couples face in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In the DRC, it is customary for couples to first pay a dowry to the bride's family and then a marriage application fee as part of the legal marriage procedure. The dowry is a requirement for the registration of the marriage in the civil registry, which makes it the only legally recognized marriage in the DRC. However, over the years, these fees have become increasingly high, creating significant obstacles for young couples who wish to marry. Recognizing this problem, the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children has started working towards eliminating application fees and setting a rate for dowry. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make legal marriage more accessible and affordable for all couples.

The ceremony featured several speakers, each providing a unique perspective on the event.

Cheikh Abdallah Mangala Lwaba, the legal representative of the Islamic community of the DRC, spoke on behalf of the CNRP, presenting the Islamic perspective on marriage. He emphasized the values shared by different religious denominations and the symbolic significance of the dowry in Islam. He also highlighted the role of religious organizations in supporting and strengthening marriages and families.

Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, President of the Central Africa Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of marriage between a man and a woman and of the family within the community, especially its importance in God's plan for the salvation of humanity: “Unfortunately, there are several practices that continue to be a major obstacle, hindering the key actors from achieving this objective. Some of these practices include:

• The exaggerated rate of the dowry imposed on the future husband by the inlaws.
• The exaggerated list of goods in nature requested by the wife's family.
• This dowry system impoverishes the youth, enriches the older generation, and worsens the social inequalities.
• The administrative costs and other gifts requested by the various state services before the celebration and registration of the marriage.
• And the need to have wedding officiants assigned to remote areas and sectors.”

He also stated, “It is of the utmost importance that we (Churches, the Government, and Parliament) promote the best conditions for access to marriage. This should consider the failures, non-fulfillment of commitments and promises made by future spouses, as well as any procrastination noted during marriage celebrations in the family and before the civil registry authority.”

Master Roger Sesani, an expert working on marriage projects, provided an overview of efforts made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the CNRP, and the government to obtain reforms of marriage laws and reduce financial obstacles for couples. He stated, “Marriage is the foundation of family life. Marriage is what creates a family. However, the state only recognizes marriages that are celebrated publicly and solemnly, or registered at the civil registry office, following a traditional family celebration.” He also made the following recommendation that “the state efforts to promote family unity and stability should involve creating a legal framework and establishing civil registry offices to centralize the marriage registration system.”

Her Excellency Leonnie Kandolo, Minister of Gender, Families, and Children, described the ministry's vision and commitment to supporting and promoting marriages, families, and children in the DRC. She acknowledged that the variation in dowry amounts is set according to ethnic groups and traditions. “My priority will be to continue working to address the challenges of determining the amount of the dowry while respecting the customs of the different ethnic groups present in the country. Additionally, I aim to gradually eliminate certain administrative fees related to civil marriage. The Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children has a cross-cutting mission and is involved in all sectors of the country. I am committed to working diligently to uphold all laws regarding marriage, families, and children in Congo.”

After the speeches, the mayor of Matete’s commune did proceed this weekend to a solemn celebration of 98 couples. The event was enriched by musical performances by the choir of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, creating a joyous and uplifting atmosphere for this memorable day. This wedding ceremony marks a significant advancement in promoting accessible and affordable marriage in the DRC. The event not only celebrated the unions of the couples but also signified a commitment to promoting strong, stable, and legally recognized marriages throughout the country.