Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bunia (Fides Service)- “People here are convinced that foreign interference was behind the massacre of 9 peace keepers of the UN mission in Congo, MONUC” say local sources in east Congo with regard to the ambush on Friday 25 February in the north eastern region of Ituri in which 9 UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed. “Everyone knows that arms continue to come in from Goma” the source told Fides.
The international community blamed the massacre on ethnic militia groups operating for some time in Ituri. The Front Nationaliste et Intégrationniste FNI, mainly Lendu and the Union des Patriotes Congolais UPC, mainly Hema are said to be responsible for a resurgence of violence in the area. Hema herdsmen and Lendu famers have fought over land for year. They live in the same area and speak the same language. Conflict between them has been accentuated and manipulated by outside forces aiming for the region’s natural resources. Ituri is rich in gold coltan, uranium and oil still to be exploited
Over the past three months more than 70,000 people have been forced to abandon their villages because of ethnic clashes. Since 1999 more than 50,000 have been killed and 500,000 have been made homeless.
“However we draw comfort from the reaction of the international community which does not intend to abandon Congo” the sources told Fides. “Let’s hope that the attempt to destabilise east Congo by blowing on the fire of ethnic tension turns out to be counter-productive for those responsible”.
The government of D. Congo said it intends to increase the military presence in Ituri with 3,000 soldiers of the new unified Congolese army. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2005 righe parole)
