Saturday morning
Saturday morning we wait for the victorious troops to enter Mambasa. The streets are deserted. The last APC soldiers left the city without trouble. Around 8.30 there are shots of heavy weapons. Some of the people of Mambasa are in the forest others are inside their homes.
Around 9.00 the Congo Liberation Army ALC led by J. P. Bemba enters Mambasa finding no resistance; they take the city with the infernal noise of firearms. They shoot for eight hours continually. Around 16.00 there is a moment of quiet and then shooting resumes until about 22.00

Sacking
Everyone was wondering why this waste of ammunition, because we knew that the APC troops had left. The answer to this question was seen when the people returned to their homes. The shooting served to keep the people away while the soldiers looted the homes without being disturbed and without witnesses. The door of every house had been broken down. Bicycles, mattresses, clothes, radios everything…had been stolen. If the soldiers caught sight of anyone they demanded money, if he had none they beat him and shot all around him. Many women were taken prisoner in front of everyone. The people were robbed of everything. They have to start all over again.

Reason for the sacking
Without a doubt, the ALC militia had permission from their commanders to loot the houses. One of them disclosed the method: when a village is taken the military is allowed to sack, rape and steal for four days without punishment. A colonel who came from Isiro also gave the impression that this is the rule; it is a way of paying the soldiers.

Situation at the mission
This time the mission too was sacked. The Fathers were humiliated and robbed of their belongings. There was shooting in their rooms. The sacking was total: offices, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, pharmacy, the Binase dispensary, and also part of the Bernardo Longo Institute training school.
Later military superiors realised that they had made a great mistake allowing the sacking of the Catholic mission held in high esteem by everyone; particularly since they are giving food, accommodation and medical assistance to 2,500 displaced persons. The Sunday after the sacking, the parish priest was called by the Colonel who apologized to the fathers and the sisters for what had happened, adding that he would never have wished such a thing to happen. He was told clearly that apologies and compensation should be made to the people. The priests and sisters could manage but unless the stolen belongings are returned, the people would be in total discomfort. The Colonel promised to go in person to the Mission the next day, Monday, and to apologize officially.

Promises
The Colonel did arrive at the Mission early on Monday October 14. He apologized saying that the sacking was carried out by a group of disobedient soldiers, who would be punished. He added that he would do his best to see that the Mission's good were returned. But he was told once again that more than returning the goods of the Mission it was necessary to apologize to the people and return their goods at least partly and above all to liberate the girls taken captive by the soldiers. The Colonel promised that in 48 hours all the requests would be satisfied.

The meeting
On Thursday 17 October the military organized a meeting to explain their actions and to give the people a chance to take back their goods which had been assembled at the meeting place. Unfortunately the objects exposed were so insignificant that the people thought the meeting was a stupid joke and refused to go to the place. The missionaries showing solidarity with the people also refused to withdraw three motor bikes and a television.

And now…
Life in Mambasa will resume, but at the price of great suffering. After this first sacking there will be daily sacking (the soldiers will demand all sorts of things from the people who will be forced to supply food, be subject to blackmail at the road blocks, to violence et.) And the displaced persons? How can they be helped if now the only road open to Beni has become a battlefield? Who will help these people? (Fides Service 8/11/2002)