THE PEACE SITUATION
Bishop Isingoma writes: an apparent stability seems to be observed in the area of government
control. But hope for a durable peace is not yet as the country is still divided; foreign troops are still
engaged in the country, militias forces are scattered in the country, the natural resources are
looted, the majority are living in poverty, politicians are greedy and power hungry. Most of people
are experiencing a high level of hatred especially in rural areas where militias are killing on tribal
basis. They pretend to fight against the invasion forces from Uganda and Rwanda while they are
causing terror and vandalism acts among people especially in remote areas.
The wounds of this war are still open. Since last year, three million people have been killed and
sixteen million uprooted. These are scattered in urban areas where they hope to be secure and
expect to get assistance from humanitarian organisations. Towns such as Lubumbashi and
Kinshasa are over crowded. Many widows and orphans, victims of war are found every where; they
come to seek compassion from the church.
The war causes other complications: in October 2001, Bishop Isingoma attended the Provincial
Executive Council and the Bishops Council meetings. A delegation from Katanga Diocese attended
the meeting as well. The country being divided they had to travel via Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and
Uganda: a 3,000 km journey to reach Bunia.
These words come from folk in Bunia:
Jesus said I have come that they might have life and may have life more abundantly.
John 10:10
These verses have been challenging us over these past few days. As we live in Jesus and He in
us, how much are we helping others to come to the source of this abundant life? All around us we
see the opposite - folks who have anything but an abundant life. In this part of the country with no
stable government, how can there be justice, development or help for those in need? People are
weary from the violence, their increased poverty. Where and when will it all end? We pray for the
peace talks, now taking place in Durban, S. Africa. We pray for President Kabila who seems
so concerned for the population.
Answered Prayer
Deo writes:
Sinza writes:
Jijika writes:
Inter Congolese dialogue meeting in Sun City, South Africa
On 19 April the government, the rebel Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC) and members
of the unarmed opposition and civil society signed an agreement at the end of the inter-Congolese
dialogue (ICD). The facilitator of the ICD, Ketumile Masire, said the 361 delegates had adopted 37
resolutions. She described this as an impressive achievement given the complexity of the DRC
crisis.
The deal will result in a transitional government with Kabila remaining as head of state and
millionaire businessman turned rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba as prime minister. Bemba said he
would not form a government until he had met Kabila to discuss security concerns. Once in
Kinshasa, his first priority would be to bring together all the signatories of last week's agreement to
form a government and to work out a plan to reunify all the belligerent forces into one army.
Bizima Karaha of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) dismissed the
agreement, though rebel commander Songolo Nura said senior figures in the RCD were ready to
accept the deal. Bemba begged RCD-Goma to accept the agreement saying that they have been
given the post of the vice Prime Minister.
Despite all the difficulties the youth team in Bunia were able to celebrate. They
were thrilled to see the way God enabled them to hold a training seminar for the Diocesan youth
workers, a youth representative and a girls' worker from the dioceses of Bukavu, Kindu, North-Kivu
and Kisangani. This was the first seminar in two years that had happened as planned! Thanks for
praying. I was really encouraged to see the calibre of youth worker from each area and the
keenness of the girls' worker. This gave us all hope for the youth work to spread throughout our
church here in the Congo. We praise God for all the teaching.
"Amazing!! I thought this seminar that we had planned was only to help the Diocesan youth
workers. But God had an amazing plan for me as Youth Trainer in our Diocese of Boga. I don't
really know how to explain all the blessings that I received during the seminar. I was greatly built up
spiritually but also whilst I was teaching God spoke to me telling me that He wanted me to go and
run our Training Centre for youth leaders in Mahagi. I argued with Him over this for quite a time but
God showed me that this is His plan. So now I need your prayers because training is the foundation
for our work amongst young people. May God help me to live within His will and to listen to Him so
that I know what He wants me to do with young people so that they get saved. I praise God so
much for the wife He has given me because she is willing to share with me in the plans so that
together we work for His glory. May God bless you as well."
We have been greatly blessed by the development work amongst young people. For me this was
the first time to be teaching on development since finishing my studies. I was greatly encouraged
by the interest of the young people to what I was saying and how I was able to answer all their
questions. I have just been attending a workshop run by NGO's here in Bunia. We were trying to
work out together how we can make sure people get enough food and what solutions to give to the
government and the local population
"By teaching and by the teaching we received plus sharing with the girls' workers during the
seminar what we do here in our diocese, I realised afresh that this is the work God has called me
to do and that through it I see my self-worth."