Blanchard Ayinza Boke is the country coordinator of Connexio develop in the DR Congo. He lives with his family in Kinshasa and is experiencing many things these days that make him angry and sad. We spoke to him about this on January 29<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The situation is very difficult in the east of the country, particularly in North Kivu and especially in the city of Goma and its surroundings. The security situation has deteriorated and continues to escalate. The situation is chaotic. Humanitarian organizations working in Goma have lost their logistical capacities. Many organizations such as the Red Cross<\/a> warehouses in which food and other goods were stored were destroyed. It was very tense in Kinshasa yesterday. Angry crowds demonstrated in the streets and attacked embassies of Western and some African countries in Kinshasa. The people of Congo want their government to fight and resolve the crisis in the east of the country. Rwanda and the M23 have killed millions of Congolese. The United Nations has reported crimes and abuses against children and women by the M23 and Rwanda reported<\/a>but the international community remains silent about these crimes. Rwanda is not sanctioned and is even rewarded for its human and economic crimes. The citizens of Congo are calling for an end to the theft, abuse of women and children and the killing of people for minerals. They demand a fair and clean trade in minerals. Congolese citizens have been killed for three decades. Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! The situation could worsen if no major diplomatic efforts are made. The peace process mediated by the Republic of Angola is currently blocked. The DR Congo rejects any negotiations with the rebel group and the Rwandan president did not attend the last meeting scheduled a few weeks ago in the city of Luanda. The rebels are now also moving towards Bukavu, the capital of the province of South Kivu. Before attacking Goma, the rebels entered Minova, a small town on the border between North and South Kivu. A rebel leader claims that the target is Kinshasa. As the situation in the area around Goma escalates, Kinshasa will face violence in the coming days.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t I am in regular contact with Ms. Rose, the current project manager of the Peacebuilding project<\/a> in Uvira. The project team is safe so far and the project area has not yet been affected by this phase of the conflict in Goma.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The Rebel group M23<\/a> is supported by the Rwandan armed forces (RDF). Since then, there has been fierce fighting between the rebels and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) around Goma airport. Until yesterday evening, there was also street fighting between these armed groups.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhat is the humanitarian situation? <\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Electricity, running water and internet connections are no longer available. The population is being warned to stay at home as there is armed fighting in the streets. A friend who is currently in Goma told me that people are seeking shelter under their beds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhat is the situation in Kinshasa?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The USA, France, Belgium, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya were victims of these attacks. The embassies of Belgium, Kenya and France were partially burnt down and destroyed, while the embassies of Rwanda and Uganda were completely destroyed. This happened because of their involvement in the inefficient peace process or their diplomatic and military support for Rwanda.
Kinshasa is relatively quiet this morning, although the ruling political party (UDPS) had yesterday called for a large demonstration today. Many banks, schools, stores and shopping centers remain closed. Traffic is very light as many people are afraid of violence after yesterday's riots.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tPeople demonstrate on the streets. What are they demanding from the governments of Rwanda and Congo?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The European Union recently granted Rwanda 20 million euros in military aid<\/a> granted. The truth is that Rwanda is killing, stealing and selling minerals (especially coltan) in Congo to a world market hungry for the valuable minerals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhat other concerns do you have?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The people of Congo want Rwanda to stay out of DR Congo territory and stop supporting the M23, a murderous rebel militia that is partly financed by the illegal trade in minerals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tHow do you assess the situation?<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
It looks as if the solution will be a military conflict between the DR Congo and Rwanda over the M23.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhat do you know about the next steps?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
What have you heard about our projects, has anyone been directly affected?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
How exactly does our project provide support?<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t