Conflict in the Congo

Fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has
forced more than a million people from their homes. It is also preventing the
Bible Society from carrying out its ministry among the refugees.

Since
our prayer request was sent out to the UBS fellowship in September, the
situation has worsened. Fighting has intensified between rebel factions and the
army in the areas north of North-Kivu province. People have been forced from
their homes, and then often watched them burn to the ground before fleeing for
their lives.

“No schools, no markets, and the airport has been closed
since October 27,” said a United Nations (UN) radio broadcast. A provisional
report announced nine deaths, three serious injuries, three young victims of
rape, and shops and houses looted. The loyalist soldiers have left Goma. The
rebels are advancing on the town, but have been temporarily held back by UN
forces.

The humanitarian situation is critical. There is an urgent need
for intervention in order to prevent the outbreak of disease. The refugees are
without even the basic essentials; they feel abandoned and are losing hope.

Jean Mateyabo, area secretary for the Bible Society in the east of DRC, based
in Goma, was on his way back from Kinshasa after attending the Bible Society’s
Annual General Meeting, but he is now stuck in Kisangani, as there are currently
no flights to Goma.

The conflict around the Great Lakes (DRC, Rwanda,
Uganda and Burundi) dates back to 1994, when the Hutu-majority Rwandan
government was overthrown. Hutu loyalists were allowed to cross the border into
DRC and set up home, taking their weapons with them. The current Rwandan
government, of Tutsi majority, continues to encourage the armed groups in DRC to
stage a rebellion, “in order to secure our borders”, it claims.

In pursuit of the Hutus responsible for the genocide, the governments of
Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi supported armed groups which managed to topple the
Kinshasa leadership in May 1997. Having failed to further their cause, they are
currently supporting the deposed General Laurent Nkunda.

Efforts towards
restoring peace in the east of the country have failed many times. This was the
case, notably, with the democratisation process, which led to the setting up of
new institutions in 2007, as well as the ‘Amani’ program (‘Peace’ in Swahili,
the language spoken in the east of the country), whose aim is to reconcile the
30 or so armed groups in the Kivu region.

Under the current
circumstances, the Bible Society can no longer distribute Scriptures in remote
areas; the distribution vehicle is only able to supply bookshops and churches in
Goma city itself. In fact, at present even Goma cannot be supplied, because it
is surrounded by groups of armed militia.

Humanitarian aid and spiritual
comfort are vital for the refugees, and the Bible Society is doing everything
possible to make Bibles available to them, so that these people may find hope
and inner strength to sustain them until they can return home.