Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service)- Bukavu, a city with a population of 500,000, the main centre of southern Kivu situated on lake Kivu not far from the border, is at the heart of a new Congolese tragedy of which we give a brief chronology.
On May 24 in Bukavu, Jean-Marie Guéhenno deputy-secretary for UN peacekeeping operations said progress was being made in installing Transition institutions but that armed groups were “still a threat for civilians”.
On May 26 there was fighting with light arms and mortars in Bukavu, in the district of Nguba, between the new unified national army and members of the pro-Rwandan rebel group (RCD-Goma), led by Jules Mutebusi, former vice-commander of the military region, dismissed in March on charges of mutiny. To justify his actions Mutebusi denounced the killing of several Banyamulenge Tutsi civilians of Rwandan origin resident in Congo for decades. A MONUC (UN Mission in Congo) helicopter opened fire on a rebel military post in Bukavu issuing the group an ultimatum to return to headquarters. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees reported that at least one thousand Congolese had fled for safety across the border to Cyangugu in Rwanda. Between 26 and 28 May at least 27 people were killed including six civilians.
Saturday 29 at 6am was the MONUC deadline to the mutineers to hand in their arms. Almost all the dissident soldiers went to five points of the city under MONUC control but did not hand over their weapons. Water and electricity supplies were resumed in the city. However Mutebusi failed to withdraw, saying he wanted to protect the Banyamulenge and accusing the regular troops led by General Félix Mbuza Mabe of killing many civilians. During the night of the 29, near Kalehe, 60 km north of Bukavu, unidentified gunmen shot dead a MONUC military observer. On Monday 31 May the dissident troops were about 20 km from Bukavu. The President of Congo affirms that the incidents in Bukavu will not weaken his determination to go ahead with the transition process started in April 2003. Fighting continues in Bukavu. Goma airport is closed for several hours. The UN says Nkunda’s dissident militia have promised to respect the cease fire and stop their advance towards Bukavu, where the number of casualties has grown to 50. But fighting resumes in the early evening from about two hours, at Miti, between Bukavu and the airport. Tuesday June 1: after a quiet night the army launches an offensive on the rebels stationed 7km south of the airport and 23 from Bukavu city. The rebels resist the attack and advance 7 km in one day stopping 16 km from the city. The regular army calls a cease-fire.
A network of civil society associations says that what it said to be an uprising by Mutebutsi a Bukavu is “the start of the offensive of a new rebellion “Front for the Liberation of East Congo” (FLEC)”. The military wing of the movement is said to include officials guilty of massive human rights violations. The military leaders are said to be high ranking officers of the Rwandan army, financed by a Lebanese. “If this information is confirmed the new movement could present a serious threat to peace and security in central Africa” say civil society sources in Bukavu. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/6/2004 righe 47 parole 606)
