Congo, Democratic Republic of

Goma diary

Goma diary

This morning Caritas Goma Director Fr. Oswald Musoni gave us his reflections on the situation following the fall of the city to M23 rebels on 20 November. “The bombs and bullets were terrifying.  I’m finally feeling better after three days and am back and at work,” he said. “Yesterday it was difficult to get around, ...

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Catholic Church in Africa outraged by Congo violence

Catholic Church in Africa outraged by Congo violence

African Catholic Church leaders meeting in Kinshasa say that escalating violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing a major humanitarian tragedy. Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences and Bishop-Presidents of national Caritas organisations from 34 countries in Africa signed a statement condemning the conflict, which has seen the city of Goma fall ...

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Caritas looks to provide aid in Congo after Goma falls to rebels

Caritas looks to provide aid in Congo after Goma falls to rebels

Caritas is expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo after rebels seized Goma, a city of over a million inhabitants. ‘M23’ rebel fighters took over the city 20 November, sparking an estimated 100,000 people to flee according to local caritas staff. Pockets of violence were reported ...

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Congolese rebels take Goma as people flee

Congolese rebels take Goma as people flee

“There is still crackling fire this morning,” says Caritas Goma Head of Emergencies Eddy Yamwenziyo. “But it’s very sporadic and is just shooting in the air.” Congolese ‘M23’ rebels entered Goma this morning according to Radio Okapi. Goma is a city of about a million people in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo ...

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Thousands forced to flee in Congo

A humanitarian crisis is underway in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after rebels claimed control of Goma, a city of one million inhabitants. An estimated 2.2 million people are said to be displaced within Congo, Africa’s second largest country which is the size of Western Europe. Caritas Congo with its local diocesan Caritas Goma staff ...

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Anxiety in Goma

Anxiety in Goma

Conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is getting worse. Rebels called the ‘M23’ are only a couple of kilometers from the main regional city of Goma. Any attack would create a largescale humanitarian emergency as Goma has around one million residents. A Caritas staff member Eddy Yamwenzyio spoke to Valerie Kaye ...

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Peacebuilding in Eastern Congo

Peacebuilding in Eastern Congo

En français:E x-combattants The situation in the eastern Congo province of North Kivu continues to deteriorate since conflict resumed in March after hundreds of former rebels defected from the army to join a renegade general. Keeping ex-rebels from returning to the bush is difficult. Poverty, lack of opportunities and lack of acceptance within their communities ...

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Caritas food aid gets though in eastern Congo

Caritas food aid gets though in eastern Congo

Despite fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu between the government army and rebels, Caritas has been able to get food aid through to people in desperate need. Caritas Goma, the local diocesan arm of Caritas Congo, has provided food in Minova, Kalungu, Ntamugenga and Kitshanga to 37,000 people forced from their homes. ...

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Recruitment of child soldiers returns to Congo

Recruitment of child soldiers returns to Congo

All week they come. The children arrive at the centre tired and breathless. They say they’ve been seized by fighters who want to use them as child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s renewed wars. “We were captured on the hill overlooking our school,” says one child, who has just arrived at a transit ...

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