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| Patrick Ndeze - Warrior Branch Manager in Goma |
Sitrep dated 19th June 2012
The current security crisis in eastern part of DR Congo, north Kivu Province dates back to 1960s when war broke out in Rwanda between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes. During the conflict, many Tutsi crossed over to Congo and settled in the areas of Masisi and Rutshuru territories of North Kivu Province. During Mobutu regime all Rwandese Tutsi in the respective territories were granted the Congolese citizenship.In the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the Hutu dominated government was toppled by the Tutsi rebels, and many of them flew to DRC. The DRC Tutsi living in Masisi and Rutshuru moved to Rwanda Refugee camp fearing for their safety.
In 1996, Kabila who then was fighting the Mobutu government from the forest struck a deal with the Tutsi remnants in Congo and Rwandan troops for military support to oust president Mobuto (Zaire) from power in return to allow the Congo -Tutsi population leaving in refugee camps in Rwanda back to their homes in Congo. President Kabila did not honor the agreement after taking over power, which led to formation of many rebel groups such as RCD, CNDP and the most recent M23 formed in an attempt to evaluate the status of the agreement signed between the rebels and the DRC Government.
When Kabila’s son Joseph took over power from his father in 2002, he decided to form a Government of Unity integrating political leaders of the rebel groups who were fighting his government along with their soldiers. Mr. Laurent Nkuinda declined the offer and stayed back with some soldiers who were not absorbed into the Congolese army. Laurent Nkunda created CNDP which continued to fight against the DRC army with the ultimate goal of scooping off North Kivu from DRC to remain semi- autonomous territory without having to pay homage to the corrupt Kinshasa government.
After three years of conflict, President Kabila came to an agreement with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to arrest Laurent Nkunda and appointed his chief of staff General Jean Bosco Ntaganda who was positive about the CNDP forces integration.
The international community put pressure on DRC government to arrest General Bosco and hand him over to ICC.The General however, on realizing that the government as after him, he decided to leave the Congolese army with soldiers loyal to him into the forest, and now is also fighting the DRC government.
Last week, Reports received from Rutshuru and Masisi where Warrior has installations are that the government army is losing grip in these areas. We have advised our guards to stay alert at their posts. UNHCR have evacuated all their staffs to Goma and Warrior are only guarding empty premises.
Many people from the areas of Masisi and Rutshuru are leaving to seek refuge in Rwanda for fear of full scale war between the rebels and the government troops. Yesterday we checked up with UNHCR office in Rwanda and were told that they have booked in 10,000 refugees for the last two months and are receiving about 500 refugees daily.
This might lead to a human catastrophe as Rwanda is also struggling with many of the Congolese Tutsi on their own soil as refugees.
For over decades these areas have been occupied by the Rwandese Tutsi and Congolese citizens who had lived together harmoniously. However, the situation changed when the Rwandan dominated Hutu government was ousted by the Tutsi rebels and the Hutus sought refuge in DRC.
a. For Goma and Beni, the alert level is considered Yellow, ‘Elevated’.
b. For Rutshuru areas – DRC and Uganda Border areas, it is considered Red, ‘Severe’