Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service) - There is a climate of uncertainty and confusion in Bukavu the main town in the South Kivu region in the east of Democratic Congo, at the heart of a crisis which could throw the country back into violence and even unleash a conflict with Rwanda whose troops according to Congo have invaded its territory.
“Rebels led by General Laurent Nkunda are said to have officially withdrawn” say local Fides sources who prefer not to be named for security reasons. “But in actual fact his men are still circulating freely in the city and extorting money from people on the streets, something which the UN MONUC peacekeepers who should monitor the cease fire seem unable to stop. What is more General Nkunda has withdrawn from Bukavu with only 2,000 men and it is known that he came with 4,000. Where are the other 2,000?” Fides sources ask.
General Nkunda, one of the leaders of RCD-Goma (Congolese Union for Democracy), and his men were to be integrated into the new unified army obtained by the fusing of the guerrilla movements fighting in East Congo with the regular army troops loyal to President Kabila. Nkunda and Col. Jules Mutebusi, former vice-commander of the military region, rebelled against the Kinshasa authorities reportedly to protect Banyamulenge people, Tutsi of Rwandan origin in Congo for decades from a genocide like the one in Rwanda 10 years ago. “This is a manoeuvre to put smoke in the eyes ” say local Fides sources. “About two months ago a letter was made public which accused leading persons in Bukavu, including some ecclesiastics, of planning a massacre of Banyamulenge. The accusations were false: the letter was signed by someone who in the past had accused the late Archbishop of Bukavu, Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko who died in 2000 in Rome, of fomenting violence when he actually did the exact contrary ” say Fides sources.
“The whole war is a deception. Even the presence of Hutu militia ‘interhamwe’ from Rwanda connected with the regime of the genocide aims at justifying the presence of the troops of the new Rwandan army in Congo” say Fides sources. “But we see that some Banyamulenge do not want war. But the voice of the moderates is still to weak compared to that of the extremists who are sowing new violence and death”.
Yesterday 7 June the UN Security Council condemned the taking of Bukavu by the RCD-Goma rebels and violence committed against civilians. The European Union is considering sending a military mission like the one sent to Bunia (north-east Congo) in 2003 to support the UN peacekeeping mission. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2004, righe 38 parole 493)
