Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- “Government troops returned to Goma chanting victory, but we know they suffered heavy losses” said missionary sources in the east of Democratic Congo where the regular army has launched an offensive against the troops of rebel general Laurent Nkunda (see Fides 3 and 5 December 2007). A Congolese army spokesman said 13 government soldiers were killed in fighting around the village of Mushake, 40 km from Goma, the main city in Kivu.
“Violence is reported only in north Kivu, southern Kivu is quiet” the sources told Fides. “People in the affected area are fleeing their homes and the number of displaced persons in dramatic conditions increases every day. This is the rain season and in the mountain area of east Congo it is cold”. The international Red Cross association says at least 400,000 people have fled their homes and it called on the combatants to spare the lives of civilians. It also denounced widespread sexual violence against women in the area.
At a meeting in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, with leaders of the Great Lake countries (see Fides 5/12/2007), US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said it was urgent to enhance the capacity of Congolese security forces to enable them to counter “negative forces” in the area, guerrilla gangs based in the east of the country which prolong instability. Among these guerrillas explicit mention was made of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a dissident group of former members of the Interhamwe (militia responsible for the Rwandan genocide in 1994).
“With regard to the Great Lakes crisis, the international community appears to have changed its course ” said the missionary, who prefers not to be named for security reasons. “However it should be remembered that the main cause of the fighting in East D. Congo are its natural resources. The blame is put on the 'negative forces', but who can explain why these men, wanted by international justice, and in an area where UN peacekeepers are present, are so well equipped? Their weapons are better than those of the regular army, they have medicines, new uniforms and boots, tins of food and powdered milk. Whose are the helicopters which fly over the area where these militia are to presumably supply them? Do they fly away empty or loaded with minerals?” the missionary wonders. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/12/2007 righe 31 parole 430)
