AFRICA/DR CONGO - North Congolese, an explosive mix: ex Central African combatants and gold mines

Monday, 17 February 2014

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The instability in the Central African Republic is a threat to its neighbors, starting with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where at least 50,000 Central African refugees live in precarious conditions in villages in the area of the northern district of Bondo. A first wave of refugees had reached the DRC to escape the violence of the rebellion Seleka, which in March 2013 had seized power in Bangui.
After Seleka was expelled from the Central African capital at the end of December, it is now the turn of former guerrillas to seek refuge in northern DRC. Many Central African armed groups have been dedicated to the trade of so-called "blood minerals" for decades. The gold mines of Bondo therefore risk becoming the main source of contention among these armed formations. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/02/2014)


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