Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service)- “The city is slowly being strangled. Supplies are ever fewer and far between. If this continues we will soon run out of fuel” said local sources in Bukavu, main town in south Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the centre of a dramatic crisis which threatens to trigger a new conflict in the heart of Africa.
“Most of the city’s supplies come through Burundi and Rwanda. But for a month the Rwandan border has been closed and the road Bukavu Burundi is blocked by RCD-Goma rebel guerrillas” Fides sources said. RCD-Goma, the main rebel group, is formed of Tutsi Banyamulenge of Rwandan origin who have lived in Congo for years. In May and June a group of dissident rebels formerly members of RCD-Goma, mutinied and took Bukavu for a few days before being pushed out again by government troops. Before dawn on Sunday 20 June the regular army launched an offensive to fight back rebels in Kamanyola , a strategic locality on the Bukavu Burundi road. “The rebels suffered heavy casualties but the road is still blocked. Now supplies come only from Kinshasa a thousand miles away” local sources told Fides. “After being pushed out of the rebels want to starve it and plunge the population into chaos with the hope of presenting themselves as “liberators” and “guarantors of order”.
To face the situation Kinshasa is sending more troops to Kivu. “The government is determined to keep the country united” the sources told Fides. “We hope dialogue will prevail, we known that many Banyamulenge want peace. Radio Okapi, run by the UN in Congo, broadcast a protest by Banyamulenge mothers with sons forced to fight with the rebels. We hope that the voice of those who want peace will be stronger and stronger”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2004 righe 30 parole 377)
