‘Untold rebel terror’ in Democratic Republic of the Congo as silent genocide continues
October 16, 2009
Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing their homes as the conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army and Congolese forces expands in the northeastern portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Bruno Miteyo, director of Caritas in the nation, told Vatican Radio that two million Congolese are now internally displaced.
“The local population is the target of violence: murder, kidnapping and sexual abuse,” said an official of Doctors Without Borders. “Our patients have told us the most brutal stories-- about children who are forced to kill their parents and people burnt alive inside their homes.”
The conflict in the nation-- the deadliest since World War II-- has claimed 5.4 million lives, leading Congolese bishops to lament the “silent genocide” taking place there.
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Further information:
- Caritas DRC: Untold Rebel Terror in North Kivu (Vatican Radio)
- Violence Expands in Northern Congo, Population in Urgent Need of Assistance (Doctors Without Borders)
- Sudan: 20,000 Christians march in sackcloth, ashes after government ignores savage attacks [by Lord’s Resistance Army] (CWN, 09/22/2009)
- Background: ‘Silent genocide’ in Congo (CWN, 12/01/2008)
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