THE PROGRESS June 2001
The war is not over and peace
has not yet arrived but there are lots of small signs of hope
and movements in the right direction. 
Laurent Kabila was assassinated on 16 January, 40 years to the day after the murder of Lumumba, and his son Joseph Kabila replaced him on the 26th. Joseph was a Major-General and Chief of the Army in his father’s government. He spent most of his life outside Congo; he was educated in Tanzania and received military training in China. He has been actively working at the peace process. He has co-operated with the UN and has sat down and had talks with people his father refused to negotiate with. In April he appointed a new government retaining only 9 of the 36 ministers and vice-ministers. On 24 June he opened a human rights forum saying "We want to resolutely turn a page in the history of our country, which has been written in blood and tears, and begin the march towards a Democratic Republic of Congo where the rule of law is respected"
Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently said:
"We are now faced with a genuine window of opportunity for peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has deployed 490 military observers who, supported by 1,660 troops, are verifying the disengagement. Already, MONUC has verified close to 60 per cent of the redeployment positions.
"In the near future, the parties will be finalizing plans for the withdrawal of all foreign troops as well as for the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, repatriation and resettlement of armed groups. Recent developments include: the signing by the Congolese parties on 4 May in Lusaka of a Declaration of Principles for the conduct of the dialogue; the announcement on 17 May by President Kabila lifting the ban on political parties; and the announcement that there will be a meeting on 16 July which could open the way for political reconciliation."
However the effects of the war continue The growing prospects for peace mean that "for the first time, people are optimistic, even myself," said Kees Tuinenburg, head of the World Food Program in Congo. "Has this translated into more humanitarian assistance? I don't think so". As foreign armies pull back from Congo's farthest reaches and aid agencies move forward, the human toll of the country's 32-month war is being sketched in dramatic terms beyond any previously documented in an African conflict The most recent survey by the New York-based International Rescue Committee (IRC) suggests that the number of lives claimed by the Congo war now approaches 3 million. Similar death rates have been seen short-term in other African disasters – but in Congo, the hugely elevated mortality rates have continued for months and much needs to be done.
Tribal war in north-eastern Congo
In January the longstanding smouldering tensions between Lendu and Ngiti on one side and Hema on the other burst into flames of a brutal tribal war. Hundreds have been killed, often brutally murdered. Thousands have been displaced. Many fled across the border into Uganda.
Bunia the regional town in the area was already hosting many internally displaced people and food supplies were already tight and expensive. Needless to say the renewed conflict caused a lot of hardship not to mention the killings and fear of killings.
Boga was largely deserted. The ITM (nursing school) had to be closed and all students sent home. Those coming from too far fled with the rest across the river into Uganda. The hospital staff, too, had to flee. The Archbishop, too, had to seek refuge across the border together with his family.
It is sheer coincidence that this started in the same week as Kabila was murdered. Unlike the political events in Kinshasa the war in the extreme East of the country seems to have attracted little media attention.
A response from the young people in Bunia
"On 2nd February, as we were praying about how we would reach out to young people throughout this area after the tribal fighting and reading God's Word, we realised that God was asking the youth team to start visiting as many displaced people as possible here in Bunia. Why wait to visit throughout the area when God has sent so many to us here?! Deo, Bingi, Jijika, Marie, Jacques and Sylvie took up the challenge and spent day after day visiting house to house wherever the displaced people were to be found. Seven weeks later and they have visited 255 families or households. They still have so many more to visit. We praise God for showing us His concern for the displaced people. As we have sat and talked about what we have learnt through this war and through these visits, we would like to share with you all that God has taught us and the blessings that we have received:
Deo : I have learnt to listen, really listen to what someone is saying. So often we talk in general terms about a situation or what people have gone through, but now I have learnt the value and gift of listening. When someone is in deep need, through listening, sharing God's Word, praying and showing we care, even without giving any material help, that person is helped and encouraged. Now I see that we must listen to young people as well, to know what they are really saying and where they are in their lives.
Jacques: I have learnt the value of listening and understanding a person's problem so that I can have fellowship with him in his suffering. I have felt deep, deep pain as a result of this tribal fighting, as I heard and saw what my own people were doing to others. What could I say to my brothers and sisters, the Hemas, when it was my people causing such suffering? I am grateful to the Hema ladies from my church for visiting me so often, and helping and encouraging me through their love and their prayers.
Bingi: For me to get actually involved with those who are really suffering was something totally new. Always before I heard of their suffering from a distance, but now by visiting them and listening to their stories I saw with my own eyes what they had gone through. I have learnt how to counsel and help those who have been greatly traumatised by the horrors of this tribal war. And I know through reaching out to others, God is changing me in a very special way.
Jijika: As we are helping the displaced people. God is helping us. We are visiting different tribes and this is helping us to accept everyone. This will help us in the future to talk to all tribes and so finish any problems that may arise. I am learning how to live as neutral amongst the tribes. I am amazed to see the hunger for God's Word amongst the displaced people. Prayers and His Word really help them and God gives us what to say.
Marie: This is the first time that I have ever visited like this. The displaced people are so thankful that we are visiting them and yet are very surprised that we are not visiting only our own tribe or church people. I have seen with my own eyes their suffering and I have cried with those who cry.
Sinza: Through having to flee at different times during my studies I have learnt of the greatness of God in everything. If we live, we live for God He leads us through and in everything. I have learnt to trust Him more and to see His hand of protection on us.
Richard : I was saddened to see the lack of love amongst people that led to such atrocities, But where there was real love. people stood firm. Hemas protected Ngiti and vice versa.
We are grateful to God for creating this department of youth, called Agape. We now belong to a large family spread throughout the Diocese and belonging to all the different tribes. Because of this we are concerned for them all, whether they are Hema or Ngiti or any other tribe. We will not fear to visit them. We must pass this on to our children so that they will grow up to love one another and so prevent another tribal war.