Congo ministry calls for prayers amid unrest

The head of a development charity in the Democratic Republic of Congo has appealed for prayers as a government crackdown on rebel forces threatens to jeopardise peace and stability in the east of the country.

Pastor Ruben Kinyama, director of ARM Congo, said the crackdown had led to an influx of Hutu refugees into the largely ethnic Tutsi district of Marungu.

Pastor Kinyama and his agricultural team have been trying to enter the area for the last week but have been prevented from doing so by the volatile security situation. The situation looks “dire”, he said.

“There have been reports of fighting in the south and some minor skirmishes in the surrounding area. But things have escalated quite dramatically in the last two days,” he said.

Nobody is able to travel, the entire area is under a security alert and our local security forces have pulled out so as to avoid engaging with the Interhamwe or joining the DR Congo government forces.”

Pastor Ruben said he was particularly worried about the safety of children and staff at ARM homes and orphanages in the area.

“We have not been able to contact them since the crackdown began,” he said.

“I am particularly worried as the Interhamwe rebels are now moving into the Marungu town along with their families, and the government army is in pursuit.

“Many of the surrounding villages are evacuating and are moving in to Marungu town as well. Marungu is remote and extremely poor.

“The local community can barely support itself so this influx, combined with fighting, could be disastrous.”

He reported heaving fighting near a Red Cross clinic and said that some people had been seen pulling heavy guns into one town.

“Please pray for the people stuck in Marungu as the situation looks dire,” he said. “Please do everything you can to let people know about the situation here. God willing, someone that reads this can help.”

ARM Congo is a partner of World Emergency Relief. WER has appealed for donations to send food and medicine and build a resettlement fund.

On the web: www.wer-uk.org/donate