(4.11.08) Three weeks ago, rebels under the leadership of General Nkunda, a dissenting Officer from the Congolese Army captured the largest military barracks of Rumangabo. The troops of the United Nations (MONUC) managed without fighting to retrieve the military camp and gave it back to the Congolese army. Several items left behind by the attackers indicated the presence of Rwandan soldiers among Nkunda’s ranks. Last week Nkunda’s troops recaptured the military barracks for the second time and pushed on to the city of Goma. Just a few kilometres from the city and probably avoiding a clash with the UN troops, Nkunda declared a unilateral cease fire. Some interpret the cease fire as a strategy toward the reinforcement of his troops. In fact Nkunda is hardening his discourse so much that one may be brought to believe that a more important attack could be underway.
Even though the cease fire has prevented a humanitarian drama in the city of Goma with its 500.000 inhabitants, about 30.000 displaced people in the Kibumba refugee camp, in a walking distance from Rumangabo, moved toward the city of Goma. Also in their move northward, Nkunda’s troops caused the displacement of hundreds of people adding the number of the already internal displaced people in the North-Kivu area now estimated at two millions people and who live in desperate conditions. Humanitarian organizations are having difficulties to reach the displaced people because of the increasing insecurity and many of them cannot be reached where they are hiding. Yesterday a first convoy of humanitarian assistance escorted by UN troops was able to reach Rutshuru. This is a good sign, but the suffering of the people is great, as one sees elderly persons, children and women erring in such an area of cold climate and permanent rainfalls. Rape is again on the agenda, perpetuated by both the rebels and fleeing regular soldiers who also caused a great panic in the city of Goma, looted and murdered about twenty people.
For the time being, the Baptist Community in Central Africa (CBCA) is caring for 483 who fled to the city of Goma. They were first hosted in schools rooms without sufficient sanitary facilities. Now that the schools have reopened, the church has moved them to a plot in the city but lacks tents, enough food and basic sanitary facilities. In the area of Rutshuru hundreds of people have also sought refuge to several church congregations which themselves have not completely recovered from the consequences of the war. A few other congregations in the Lubero and Bwito areas have also received displaced people. A total of about 3000 people have found refuge in the CBCA congregations alone. As long as the cease fire holds there are possibilities to bring food from the northern part of the province. But efforts should be done to prevent the rebels to extend the conflict northward and thus cutting off the displaced people in the Rutshuru area from any assistance.
The current diplomatic efforts must be supported in order to avoid a serious crisis in the whole Region. Special attention should be given to the repatriation of the remaining Rwandan armed groups still in the Congo to Rwanda. This should help find out whether Rwanda is willing not to continue to blame the Congo for hosting its enemies. Furthermore it is necessary that the international community help the Congo to protect the areas bordering Rwanda and Congo. The fact that these areas are under Nkunda’s control is a source of suspicion that he facilitates infiltrations of Rwandan troops in the Congo.
Kakule Molo is the president of the Baptist Churchin Central Africa (CBCA), a UEM member church. He formerly was executive secretary for Africa in the UEM.
The United Evangelical Mission has launched an emergency appeal on television during a sevice which was broadcast throughout Germany on October, 31st. The UEM has already granted 20,000 US$ to help the internally displaced. bp/UEM
