AFRICA/CONGO DR - “Sister Jeanne Yegmane was the victim of a street ambush,” the Bishop of Doruma-Dungu tells Fides

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- “Sister Jeanne Yegmane was killed in a street ambush. It does not appear to be a targeted killing,” Bishop Richard Domba Madiy of Doruma-Dungu, in north-east Democratic Republic of Congo, tells Fides. On 15 January, Sister Jeanne Yegmane, nurse and ophthalmologist, ex-superior of the Congregation of “Augustine” (Order of St Augustine) of Dungu, was killed.
“The assailants emerged unannounced from the forest, and fired shots at passenger vehicles, killing Sister Yegmane. After having stopped the cars, they ransacked the passengers and, before escaping, they set fire to the vehicles. In the blocked line there was at least one soldier who was unable to intervene,” says Bishop Domba.
“I knew Sister Yegmane well. She was the Superior of the Augustines. After the end of her mandate, they sent her to Kinshasa to specialise in ophthalmology. She was very committed to healing the sick. Her death is a serious loss to the community,” says Bishop Domba. “Sister Jeanne was a nurse and ophthalmologist and point of reference for the Diocese of Dungu for the project promoted by CBM Italia Onlus in the city of Isiro. For months, in fact, she worked intensely to bring about the Ophtalmologique Siloe Centre in Isiro: a clinic that a clinic that will cover a catchment area of about 2,000,000 people in the Alto Huele District (eastern Congo) and that will be opened officially in May,” stated the communication sent to Fides.
As to the identity of the assailants, nothing is confirmed, however, all evidence points to them being guerillas of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). “In every probability they were guerillas from the LRA, who have taken control over this area,” maintains the Bishop. “The authorities state that the LRA is finished. But it is not true. There are still rebels in the forest. The army tries to protect the people but the guerillas attack with speed and then hide in the forest. It is very difficult to capture them,” concludes Bishop Domba. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 18/1/2011)