Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service) -“People in Bukavu knew about the visit by a United Nations delegation and they were interested. But unfortunately, because the delegation was delayed and only stayed a few hours the delegates, there was no time for a meeting with the people” local sources in Bukavu, told Fides. Recently a delegation of representing the 15 members of the Security Council. The delegation was sent to verify the situation in eastern Congo in view of elections next year .
The UN representatives said 6,000 UN peace keepers would be deployed soon to reinforce the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC). The delegation, which came from Rwanda and went on to Burundi, is on a visit to the Great Lakes region following last weeks international conference in Dar es-Salaam (Tanzania) attended by 15 African heads of state and government (see Fides 20 November 2004). At the end of the Conference participants signed a statement promising to work for ”peace, and political and social stability, growth and shared development”.
“In the light of this statement it is surprising to note the Rwandan governments invasion of Congolese territory to hunt Rwandan Hutu militia which hiding in Congo for the past ten years” the sources told Fides. “The participants solemnly declared they would respect frontiers and that each country would see that its territory is not used as a base for attacks on neighbouring nations. So let’s leave it up to the Congolese army to disarm these militia”.
Fides sources say most of the Rwandan Hutu are at some distance from the border with Rwanda. “These militia are more of a problem for Congo than for Rwanda. They harass the local people and rape Congolese women. Kinshasa has deployed troops of the 10th Military Region in the area and let’s hope thy are able to disarm the militia groups” the sources told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2004 righe 35 parole 446)
