Category Archive

The violence continues abetted in Beni.  Human Rights Watch reports that over 700 people have been killed in the Beni region in just the past two years.  On October 9, 2016, 11 more were killed.  The Islamic ADF rebels have been blamed again, although there are some voices questioning how the ADF alone could be responsible for this scale of violence. Locals have provided the following gruesome photos.

Continued death and massacre in Beni DRC, October 9, 2016

Samiela is a four year girl living in Butembo, DRC. She was born with one leg and no hands, yet is an example of resilience. Her mother was traumatized from having her home bombed during the Ugandan occupation which may have contributed to the birth defects.  Samiela is very smart, speaks well and actually demonstrates some leadership gifts with the other children.

If you are in Canada, I can accept Interac debit and ensure that 100% of any generous donation is transferred to her care givers. michael.ben@rogers.com

UPDATE: The caregivers of Samiela have purchased a goat for her with the generous donations that were provided. Thank-you!

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.

Most of us live in relatively safe communities where we can conduct our daily lives without fear for our safety.  Eastern Congo does not enjoy that luxury.  James Kataliko is reporting that businesses are effectively shut down in Butembo due to the wide spread turmoil caused by a lack of security.

With the recent dramatic slaughter in Beni, tensions are high.  Yesterday, two Hutu women were dragged from a mini-bus by a mob and set on fire, as a revenge response against Rwandans.

Those who follow this blog know that we have a key goal of supporting micro-businesses that will enable local Congolese to earn a better living.  The best way to support people in eastern Congo is to provide them with the means and tools so they can support themselves.  Living with permanent dependency for external support and handouts doesn’t work in downtown Detroit, Ferguson or Congo.

The sewing machine project has been a tremendous success as it is providing a steady cash flow for the school for orphans.  It has provided work, valuable training and a sense of purpose for many.  A small initial capital outlay was needed and the local people have been able to go from there.

But a micro-business on any nature is not going to succeed when basic security is at risk. Our supported start up business of reselling water filters and lightning rod installation nor any other can succeed in this current environment.  With the corrupt UN peacekeepers and an under-resourced Congo army, it is a bleak position.  I don’t support a Canadian peacekeeping mission in Congo as there is no peace to keep and a strong helicopter fleet is needed for there to be any effectiveness.  The Congo army needs to lead a determined expulsion of terrorists in the area and international funding in support of the army under strict controls for deployment in the immediate area appears to be the best option.

As James has requested, please pray for the people of eastern Congo.

At least 36 civilians were hacked and slaughtered in Beni overnight.  It is believed that the Ugandan Islamist group ADF organized the raid in reprisal for Congo army operations against them.  My source who provided these photos also says there were “small white like Somalians” involved, which is consistent with the ADF having origins with the jihadist terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

Kibirizi is mid way between Butembo and Goma.  This reflects the persistent post Rwandan genocide Hutu / Tutsi conflict  that has been the source of much of Congo’s grief:

KINSHASA, Aug 8 (Reuters) – Rebel fighters killed at least eight civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo before fleeing when Congolese troops arrived, local sources said, in a region where a spike in ethnic violence has halted some aid deliveries.

Hundreds of civilians have died over the past year in inter-communal violence and a series of massacres by armed groups in Congo’s North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda and Uganda.

On Sunday, an ethnic Nande militia, the Mai-Mai Mazembe, killed at least seven civilians in the town of Kibirizi before the troops arrived, local activist Innocent Gasigwa said.

Gasigwa said the attack appeared to be revenge against the Rwandophone community in Kibirizi. Rebels from the Rwandophone Hutu ethnic group were suspected of killing at least seven civilians last month in an attack targeting the town’s Nande residents.

He said an ethnic Hutu militia, the Nyatura, had also killed a man on Sunday in the nearby town of Nyanzale who was suspected of belonging to Mai-Mai Mazembe.

Local army spokesman Captain Guillaume Djike said the attacks near Kibirizi and Nyanzale were both the work of the Nyatura and that they killed at least 11 people with firearms and machetes and burned down dozens of houses.

I have received new reports of violence in Oicha just north of Beni.  With recurring violence becoming so commonplace, I have not seen regular media reporting on this recent event.  I guess it isn’t considered severe enough.

The ADF / Nalu attacked the Village Oïcha yesterday (July 30) at 17:00 as they came to loot the houses of innocent civilians.

During their battles with the FARDC, they burned one house and two vehicles. Two civilians were killed and another severe hospitalized.  There was one captured ADF, a Ugandan boy of 19 years who said he has spent over 8 years in this movement.

They used handmade bombs and explosives. Displaced families displaced are housed in schools while others take the direction of the road from Beni to flee .

Congolese soldiers along with MONUSCO are now responding in the Mughalika area.

A burnt out truck after the ADF attack on July 30, 2016

Captured ADF child soldier

Oicha area school that is housing civilians fleeing from the ADF

Homemade ADF bomb

Dorcas has provided another excellent update on the sewing project which supports La Compassion pour les Enfants en Détresse (CED) in Butembo.

As Dorcas describes CED, their primary objective is the holistic care and monitoring of orphans and victims of war, supporting children from broken homes and those recruited by armed groups, and aiding children abandoned or orphaned by HIV / AIDS.  She aims to support them for their physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs.

Dorcas reports that with funds received from Canada and from the profits they receive from selling their completed uniforms and clothes, CED has recently been able to purchase a new sewing machine, provide maintenance to their machines, and acquire new doors and windows for the high school expansion under construction. They continue to provide wages for their trainers and sewers, as well as medicine and milk for orphans.  CED is supported by many dedicated women who intercede, console and comfort the many survivors of sexual violence in their care.

She notes that the existence of the expanded high school program is due to the sewing machine project.  Younger children also receive badly needed food and medical care.

Their goal is to expand this sewing project as it provides valuable training and incentive for boys and girls to stay in school.

Showing off the uniform

Modelling the uniforms

New knitting machine

High school expansion under construction

Children at play

Gathered after morning prayers

The orphan’s dorm / sleeping area

Breakfast time

Erosion issues at the primary school

Rowena Pierette, Emmanuel Pierot (twins ), Rachele et Peter Issesomo