Willy Ngumbi Ngengele

Willy Ngumbi Ngengele, M. Afr (13 February 1965) is a Roman Catholic prelate who serves as the Bishop of Goma since 2019, having been appointed to that position by Pope Francis.

Background Ngumbi Ngengele was born on 13 February 1965 in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. He has been a vocal promoter of peace in the Eastern DRC where the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) are battling the March 23 Movement (M23), rebel military group. In January 2025, as fighting raged in and around Goma, the bishop issued a statement calling for respect for civilians. In his statement Bishop Ngengele called for “absolute respect by all parties, and in all circumstances, for human life and for private and public infrastructure in accordance with human dignity and international law”, and stressed in particular the need to ensure access to basic services for the population, and to avoid the scourge of sexual violence that so often accompanies armed conflict.