Bad Times in Eastern Congo

by Michael Bear · 2009-04-28 11:15:00 UTC
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Bad, bad times in eastern Congo.  Which, granted, is a somewhat redundant statement.  The UN reports that attacks by the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda - FDLR, for those in the acronym-know - have caused over 100,000 Congolese to flee their homes in the past two months.

According to UNHCR: "FDLR rebels are engaged in a house-to-house terror campaign, telling those they visit: 'you will all die.'"

A few thoughts:

- Clearly, the FDLR version of winning hearts and minds needs a little work.  On the plus side, at least their message is wonderfully unambiguous.  (Of course, the Congolese Army itself isn't much better, seeing as how they like to rape first, and ask questions later.)

- And, if you're wondering why a Rwandan rebel group would be wreaking havoc in Congo, well, let's just say that pretty much sums up why eastern Congo is such a mess.

- Also looks like that joint Congolese-Rwandan offensive earlier in the year to defeat the FDLR wasn't quite so successful after all.

Also, not to be left out, other rebel groups with wonderfully, perfectly ironic names (including the Popular Front for Justice in Congo and the Revolutionary Front for Peace in Ituri) are also out marauding, causing as many as 30,000 people to flee their homes in northeastern Congo.

Attacks against aid workers are also on the rise.

And, to try and balance the scales:

- Gerard Prunier offers some hope that an April 18th peace agreement between the Congolese Government and Mayi Mayi militias might bring some measure of peace to certain areas.

- Journalist Michael Kavanaugh has an interesting piece - including video - on organizations working to help rehabilitate rape victims in eastern Congo.

Finally, for a more in-depth analysis of the situation , see this excellent piece on the blog Stop the War in North Kivu.)

[Civilians fleeing fighting in eastern Congo - Photo from AFP]

Michael Bear
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