Bens in Congo

What About the ADF?

December 4, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Leaders of Rwanda and DR Congo sign a historic peace deal mediated by Donald Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi for the signing of a landmark peace agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict in the region. Trump said the deal establishes a permanent ceasefire, disarms armed groups, enables refugee returns, and creates a new framework for economic cooperation.

Key points of the Rwanda-DRC peace deal:
– Both sides reaffirm respect for territorial integrity and peaceful relations.
– All armed groups, including pro-DRC Wazalendo and pro-Rwanda M23, must halt hostilities.
– Rwanda and the DRC must immediately end all state support for these non-state armed groups.
– Both governments will work with regional and international partners to enhance security and stability.
– The agreement facilitates refugee and IDP return and strengthens humanitarian assistance.
– Support will continue for MONUSCO and other peacekeeping and verification mechanisms.
– The two countries will expand cooperation in key economic sectors to deepen integration.
– Any disputes over implementation will be resolved through the Joint Oversight Committee.

The signing was also attended by leaders from Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Togo, and Uganda. Both Kagame and Tshisekedi pledged to honour the agreement.

My concern is the exclusion of the Islamist ADF rebel group that originated in Uganda, as they are not part of this deal. The ADF has continued to terrorize North Kivu while Rwanda and Congo had ceased hostilities.

Credit to Visegrad 24, a favourite source of breaking news: https://x.com/visegrad24

The World’s Attention Has Faded

November 24, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nigerian Christian are being massacred. The Gaza and Ukrainian conflicts feel never ending. How will we be impacted by U.S. tariffs? There are a lot of issues that we could focus our attention on. Unfortunately, the story in eastern Congo hasn’t changed much and the violence continues, out of our sight, but not for the many who can’t escape.

James, a valued source of information and material for me, fled Goma with his family. Violence followed him into Burundi. Foundational to a functioning society is physical security and the rule of law, both tragically missing from Congo.

James has been able to provide the following which seems to represent the situation well. It’s a procession of dead bodies while a boy looks on, likely with a combination of fear, confusion and uncertainty.

ADF terrorists attacked the Byambwe Reference Health Center, located on the Butembo-Mangurejipa road (Lubero territory), between 10:00 PM on Friday, November 14th and Saturday, November 15th, 2025. According to local sources, 17 patients were executed, including several women who had just given birth at the maternity ward. Medicines were looted and houses were burned. Several live babies were left on the beds after the massacre of their mothers.

Massacre in Catholic Church

July 27, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

More than 38 Catholics were killed at their church in Komanda by Islamic ADF rebels with guns and machetes. Komanda is a crossroads town on the main road south of Bunia. Many houses and shops were burned with many people reported missing.

Local Catholic church officials are accusing both the Congolese army (FARDC) and United Nation peacekeepers (MOUSCO) of ignoring the massacre and desecration of the church. Father Chrysanthe Ngabu Lidja said “This sacrilege was carried out in full view of the FRDC forces and constitutes a grave violation of both Congolese law and international humanitarian standards. “

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2025/07/rebels-inflict-devastating-spiritual-wound-on-congolese-church

A Peace Agreement between DRC and Rwanda was completed on June 27, 2025 bringing a pause to the extensive violence near Goma. While M23 rebels are part of this Agreement, Islamist ADF rebels further north are not. The ADF was originally formed in Uganda.

Alleged M23 Murder of a Civilian

June 11, 2025 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

This video was forwarded from a contact in Bukavu, claiming that it demonstrates the murder of a civilian in Bukavu by an M23 solider. It has not been verified.

Eastern Congo is being Carved Up

February 19, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Virtually all major cities in eastern Congo are being invaded by foreign troops.

Rwanda and the M23 have captured Goma, capital of North Kivu province and Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province. Rwanda troops are now reported moving further south of Bukavu towards Burundi which has a tense relationship with Rwanda.

Butembo is being threatened by M23 approaching from the south after their success in Goma.

Uganda troops have entered Bunia with uncertain motivations. Officially, they arrived in support of the Congo army (FARDC) to resist rebels and the rising lawlessness. Undoubtedly they intend to seek out Islamic ADF rebels who originated in Uganda. The question remains whether they intend to participate in the seizure of mineral wealth, as is certainly the case with Rwanda.

Rwanda Invasion of Congo

February 12, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Since 2022, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have renewed their offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In January 2025, the M23 rebels were reinforced by numerous Rwandan Army detachments. Together, they launched a new campaign which overwhelmed the FARDC, also known as the Congolese Army. That’s how Goma, the capital of North Kivu, fell into enemy hands. A peaceful resolution to the conflict is hard to imagine due to all the lucrative mining sites in the region.

This is an extremely well done video that documents the military events of the recent Rwandan invasion. Regrettably, we can expect a lot more to this story.

Rwanda Captures Goma

February 3, 2025 in Uncategorized | Tags: africa, congo, drc, news, rwanda | Leave a comment

Goma, a city of two million people on the north end of Lake Kivu, has been captured by M23 / Rwandan forces. Bukavu, on the south end of Lake Kivu, will likely soon fall as well. A quick Internet search will reveal scenes of widespread death and destruction while civilians flee. It has become a huge human tragedy, yet it feels like the world has determined that this conflict is not worth watching.

Jason Stearns has been a dependable analyst of Congo. For an excellent summary explanation of the current situation, we highly recommend that you review this article: https://www.passblue.com/2025/02/02/goma-congo-understanding-the-m23-and-rdf-attack

This conflict is a continuation of the Rwandan genocide and tribal conflict. Rwanda claims that ethic Tutsi who fled into Congo have not received their fair rights and protections as promised by Congo. Rwanda has supported the M23 rebels for many years and it is fascinating to watch a vastly smaller country to the DRC maintain a vastly superior army. Jason explains that successive DRC presidents never wanted a strong professional army as the army would be the biggest threat to their power and literally their lives. Better to create multiple divisions so army generals can vie for influence. Better to allow the generals to pilfer funds to keep them loyal. But the end result is a pathetic shell of an army, manned by unpaid or underpaid untrained conscripts who haven’t yet figured out how to escape. A DRC army that on paper can field ten times the number of solders but have no fighting capability.

Diplomatically, Rwanda plays the game well. They have become vital for France and other nations for their influence in the area. There appears to be no international pressure on Rwanda to cease and desist.

This broad area is rich in critical mineral resources. Many expect Rwanda to take over and exploit these resources. There are discussions of another complete takeover of Congo by Rwandan forces, reminiscent of the tragic Congo Wars which would be a dramatic event for Africa.

Rebel Fighting Intensifies

January 26, 2025 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

We are receiving multiple reports of dreadful news as fighting in eastern Congo intensifies. Many civilians have been killed near Kalondo as rebel forces have retaken large areas. There has been outright butchery in Butembo. Rwanda backed M23 rebels have being blocking access into the major city of Goma for some time and have now killed North Kivu’s military governor as they threaten to approach directly into Goma. Goma is reported to be completely encircled and at least two UN peacekeepers have recently died. All this has prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The following video was directly provided to us. It provides a glimpse into the nature of the fighting but we are unaware of any details concerning location.

Eye Surgery Support

June 2, 2024 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

Saasita is an amazing helper and facilitator. She has brought to our attention the medical needs of multiple young people that need surgical interventions that are financially beyond the means of most Congolese. We are grateful that we were able to help.

Dr. Denis Mukwege runs for President

November 26, 2023 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dr. Denis Mukwege was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for his medical work supporting tens of thousands of brutally raped women.

Dr. Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu in 1999 which has treated over 50,000 victims of sexual violence. He has been supportive of the early work we did through Healing Streams which supported counselling for women traumatized by the endemic rape in Congo. While Dr. Mukwege physically healed women with vaginal fistulas, Healing Streams provided training for local rape counsellors.

Dr. Mukwege’s documentary film is banned

Michael will always remember the great honour having of a private dinner with Dr. Mukwege and his family. Now Dr. Mukwege is running for president of Congo as a leading candidate. The election is scheduled for December 20, 2023 and we will be following his progress!

This video is a brief summary of the four main contenders for the presidency:

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20231122-the-main-contenders-in-dr-congo-s-december-election