You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2016.
Many civilians were killed and injured in another series of attacks. These attacks happened on the evening of Tuesday, September 27 in Nyaleke near the rice mill, 12km east of Beni.
The first attack against civilians occurred at 4:00 p.m. local time. The ADF / NALU and their allies attempted to stop a vehicle returning from Kasindi to Beni with its passengers on board. When the driver attempted to escape the attackers, they began to burst fire on the vehicle. The 4 passengers somehow escaped without serious injuries.
Thanks to prompt intervention of FARDC, the rebels were scared off. A little later, not far away, it is the turn of another vehicle from Kasindi heading towards Butembo that was subject to an ambush.
The assailants stopped the vehicle before the driver could get out. They shot him and then launched a rocket at the vehicle which was reduced to ashes. The assistant driver’s life was saved when the FARDC immediately came on the scene of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, three farmers found in the region by the rebels were simply killed by these outlaws. These include: Kasaki WD (Déogratias) and Selembo who were killed with machetes before being burned and then Benoit (father of well known Laurent Kabila Beni) was shot.
These attacks occurred from 17:30 to 18:00 on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, FARDC in turn chased the enemy and inflicted huge losses. A total of 9 ADF or allies were reported killed by the regular army. Their bodies were taken on Wednesday at the morgue of the Beni General Hospital awaiting burial. In their flight from the FARDC, the ADF or their allies took the direction of the river valley Nyaleke / left bank.
Additionally, last Tuesday night, the lifeless body of Mr Mudeya Ndovya was found in Malolu (7 km east of Beni). Mr. Ndoyya was reported missing on September 17 during an attack by ADF. The decomposing body was buried on Wednesday.
JAMES Kataliko
When James contacted us and explained that he was working on a school in Butembo, we wanted to help. He has been very committed to helping the local Scouts in both Beni and Butembo.
Butembo school under construction
Butembo school expansion after completion
Desks acquired for the Butembo school
Meanwhile, at least 17 people have been killed in demonstrations which continue in Kinshasa against a lack of national elections. President Kabila continues to be delaying activity towards prompt national elections which could unleash a powder keg of resentments. He is constitutionally prohibited from continuing as president for another term and he has no clear successor.
For some good news, the massive vaccination efforts against yellow fever appear to be well managed. With an extreme shortage of vaccines, Kinshasa residents were given one-fifth dosages which is considered enough to protect someone in an outbreak this year but not enough for permanent protection.
Philip Wood has written In Praise of Simplicity that he describes as a memoir of Christian service in times of peace and war in Africa. The world needs more Philip Woods. As a Cambridge trained surgeon, he had the opportunity for a life of high income and reality ease. But motivated by a desire for Christian service, he chose to serve the neediest in Africa. It is his personal story, along with his equally trained and motivated Canadian wife Nancy, but his clear desire is to teach that fulfillment does not need to be found in material riches.
We have been blessed and honoured to have worked with them in Bunia and Nyankunde.
On their graduation from medical school, Philip and Nancy immediately set out to serve in Africa as medical missionaries. In Praise of Simplicity tells their story with many insightful vignettes, notably that we need to trust and to marvel in God who will provide. From the early days in Nyankunde, eastern Congo, political upheaval and war were always nearby. They were serving in Liberia when strongman Charles Taylor was advancing into the capital. When Liberia was no longer safe, Philip found himself part of the Nyankunde massacre where an estimate 1,500 were massacred, the hospital demolished and the Woods lost all of their earthly possessions. Yet there is never a hint of complaint from Philip.
Philip and Nancy made an incredible positive and tangible impact on many thousands of people both physically and spiritually. The book is the recording of a great man’s life that should be honoured, although of course Philip would never put it that way. We need to celebrate and honour such unselfishness.
The book is available at Amazon.com (U.S.), Amazon.co.uk (U.K.) and Amazon.ca (Canada) and GoodReads.
Bens in Congo 