Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service)-“Two souls are emerging in the RCD-Goma (Union Congolese for Democracy, guerrillas connected with Rwanda), one extremist and one moderate” local sources in Bukavu, north Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) told Fides. Since May 26, Bukavu has been at the centre of conflict between military troops loyal to the Kinshasa government and rebels loyal to Colonel Jules Mutebusi, of the RCD. Mutebusi an officer of RCD-Goma should be integrated into the new unified army as stipulated by peace agreements reached in 2003, but he opposes the governor appointed by the central government of Kinshasa.
“For the moment the situation is calm but we see movement of government troops preparing to drive back reinforcements from Goma, (north of Bukavu, bastion of RCD-Goma)” the sources told Fides. At least 1,000 RCD-Goma men coming from Goma on about ten trucks started fighting with Congolese troops near Bukavu airport.
“Local radio broadcasts reveal the different positions arising in the rebel group ”- the sources told Fides- “On the one hand there are extremists like Mutebusi trying to obtain power by force; on the other moderates who prefer the path of dialogue and peaceful mediation”.
RCD is formed mainly of Banyamulenge, Congolese Tutsi living for decades in Congo. “The RCD extremists exploit the Rwandan genocide to justify their activity. They claim they are protecting their ethnic group from more massacres. But it is time to remember that in Congo at least three million people have been killed, a forgotten massacre, a death toll 3 times higher than that of the Rwandan genocide” our sources told Fides. “We see that other Congolese parties and MONUC itself (UN peacekeepers in Congo) are determined to overcome the logic of ethnic origin and focus attention on respect for the peace agreement signed last year” our sources conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/6/2004, righe 31 parole 382)
