Archive - Feb 2, 2009

AFRICA GREAT LAKES: Rwanda, DRC mining and war

Last month, CPT visited two of the dozen large IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps that encircle Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).. One widow with two children told team members, “My husband decided to return to our shamba (farm) with our constant hunger in the camp. He was killed, probably by Gen. Laurent Nkunda's CNDP (Congrès national pour la défense du peuple ), rebel troops who control that area.” Another youth spoke of Nkunda rebel raids into his village for young men, some as young as nine, to serve as soldiers in that militia. Who is behind Gen. Nkunda, disputed head of one of the militia groups that ravages this eastern Congo region?