AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “Civilian population caught in cross-fire”: report from the European network of NGOs active in Central Africa on the situation in eastern Congo

Friday, 22 April 2005

Bukavu (Fides Service) - Civilian population caught in cross-fire, subject to extortion and violence by the troops which should protect them. This situation is reported by EurAC the European network of NGOs active in Central Africa, with reference to the south Kivu region in east Democratic Congo for many years the scene of conflict involving local and foreign troops.
The situation is most critical in Walungu where armed troops from Rwanda commit rape, extortion, murder, kidnapping, sacking. The number of these troops has increased since the end of 2004 when the UN mission in Congo MONUC and the regular army started operations to demobilise foreign troops. Even soldiers of the regular army extort money from the people. Militia of Rwandan origin and regular Congolese soldiers are reported to have sacked on several occasions humanitarian aid distributed to 55,000 people in this area made homeless because of the violence.
EURAC says “the statement made by Rwandan rebels on 31 March after mediation by the S. Egidio community offers hope for a peaceful solution and their demobilisation and repatriation. The International Committee to Accompany Transition CIAT, MONUC and the United Nations security council which welcomed this statement should act immediately to convince the militia to go to transit camps”.
EURAC is a network of humanitarian agencies in 11 countries, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom working in central Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2005 righe 28 parole 300)


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