Peacekeeping Becomes War

Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)

May 22, 2013: In early May UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region (central Africa) Mary Robinson acknowledged that the UN’s Intervention Brigade could cause problems for future UN humanitarian aid operations in Africa. The brigade has a mandate to conduct “targeted offensive operations” which is diplo-speak for offensive combat operations. The brigade is the first UN peacekeeping operation to be given an explicit offensive mandate. Critics of the Intervention Brigade concept have warned that it is a mistake for the UN to field an offensive force. The critics argue that it sets a terrible precedent. In a future humanitarian crisis, armed groups may forcibly oppose basic it humanitarian aid operations like refugee relief in a combat zone because they believe the humanitarian operation will inevitably lead to the deployment of a combat brigade which will attack them. Some Intervention Brigade supporters are concerned that the nations supplying the troops for the brigade could suffer attacks on their citizens who are living or working in the Congo or nearby countries.

Terror attacks on nations manning the brigade may seem far-fetched but they cannot be completely discounted. The model here is Uganda, which has troops serving in the UN and African Union’s AMISOM Somali peacekeeping operation. Uganda has suffered several terror attacks which have been tied to Somali Islamist extremists who oppose AMISOM.  Intervention Brigade advocates portray the brigade as the military field force component of the UN’s new Framework security and development agreement. The Framework is UN shorthand for the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for Eastern Democratic Republic Of the Congo and the Region (i.e., central African and Great Lakes region). Brigade advocates point out that there are at least 25 active, armed rebel militias in the eastern Congo. The militias seed violent chaos, making it all but impossible to conduct humanitarian relief operations much less establish and run the long-term economic, training and political stability operations the region needs. Brigade advocates contend the offensive mandate is an attempt to set conditions for sustainable economic and political development.  (Austin Bay)

May 20, 2013: M23 rebels attacked a Congolese Army (FARDC) position ten kilometers north of Goma (capital of North Kivu province). This was the first armed battle between M23 fighters and the Congolese Army since late 2012. M23 acknowledged that a firefight occurred in the area but said that its fighters were attacked by Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militiamen. After the M23 fighters drove off the FDLR attack, Congolese Army artillery began shelling their position and M23 accused the government of over-reacting.

May 16, 2013: South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to support the UN’s intervention brigade in Congo. However, South African defense officials said that many senior South African military officers believe the South African military is currently over-committed. South Africa is involved in several peacekeeping efforts in Africa. The new intervention brigade mission will require shifting scarce resources from other missions. South Africa’s participation in the intervention brigade is regarded as critical by the UN.

May 15, 2013: Armed Mai-Mai militiamen attacked a Congolese Army camp and recruitment center outside the town of Beni (North Kivu province).  The attack kicked off a two-hour long firefight between the gunmen and Congolese Army soldiers. 23 gunmen were killed, three soldiers and five army recruits.

May 14, 2013: The government acknowledged that former M23 rebel fighters have been allowed to join the Congolese Army through the army’s reintegration program. North Kivu provincial officials claim that over 500 former rebels (from various militias) have joined Congolese Army units since late 2012. The officials have complained to the national government that the reintegration program creates security risks for Congolese civilians. The North Kivu officials are particularly worried about M23 rebel fighters who have rejoined the Congolese Army. The most prominent former M23 fighter to be reintegrated is Colonel Nzala Ngomo who at the time was commanding a Congolese Army battalion and defected to M23 in November 2012. As of May 1, he is now fully reinstated as an officer in the Congolese Army. The North Kivu officials see the unrestricted reintegration of M23 fighters as rebel infiltration

May 11, 2013: A hundred Tanzanian troops committed to the UN’s new intervention brigade have deployed in the eastern Congo.  The troops are the lead element in a 1,280 soldier Tanzanian contingent that will serve with the brigade. The core of the Tanzanian contingent will be an 850 man infantry battalion. The brigade will eventually deploy 3,069 international troops. Malawi and South Africa are also providing contingents.

May 8, 2013: The UN condemned the rogue militia attack on a UN Organization and Stabilization Mission (MONU.S.CO) convoy in South Kivu province which killed a Pakistani peacekeeper.  The UN called the attack a war crime. A preliminary report claimed that the militia was trying to take hostages.

May 7, 2013: A rogue militia ambushed a UN convoy on the road between the towns of Walungu and Bukavu (South Kivu province). One Pakistani soldier serving with the MONU.S.CO peacekeeping force was killed in the attack.

May 2, 2013: M23 rebel fighters declared that they will not begin a new round of peace negotiations unless the government agrees to a ceasefire. M23 recently claimed that the Congolese Army is working with Rwandan Hutu rebels in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia. Now M23 reports that an FDLR unit is advancing toward an important M23 position and it appears that the FDLR move is coordinated with Congolese Army movements.

May 1, 2013: A senior UN diplomat acknowledged that deploying the new Intervention Brigade to conduct UN-ordered offensive operations against rebel militias could hinder future UN humanitarian operations in Congo and central Africa.  The official said that she hoped the brigade’s deployment would serve as a deterrent and that military operations would be limited.

April 30. 2013: M23 rebels declared that they are ready to fight the new UN Intervention Brigade when it deploys in the eastern Congo.  M23 officers had previously threatened Tanzanian and South African leaders that they and their men will fight the brigade. Tanzania and South Africa are both providing troops

April 24, 2013: Civilians living north of Goma have refused to comply with demands by M23 rebels that they participate in a protest demonstration against the UN decision to deploy an intervention brigade for offensive operations in the eastern Congo. A demonstration had been planned for April 15 in the town of Kibumba (north of Goma). According to local residents, M23 leaders had to call off the protest since they refused to participate.

Tanzanian troops arrive in Congo

CONGO

Tanzanian troops arrive in tense east

A contingent of about 100 Tanzanian troops arrived in eastern Congo on Saturday, a first step in assembling the new U.N. intervention brigade, said a U.N. spokesman.

The Tanzanian troops are the first batch to form the special brigade to be deployed in eastern Congo following a U.N. Security Council resolution in March, said peacekeeping mission spokesman Lt. Col. Felix Basse. The unit’s mandate allows it to fight armed groups, rather than merely defend civilians.

Malawi and South Africa have pledged to contribute troops to the U.N. force, the need for which became clear in November, when the U.N. peacekeepers stood by as Congo’s M23 rebels took the provincial capital of Goma.

— Associated Press

Welcome Melanie and Irina!

Overjoyed and more than privileged we were able to receive our first visitors from Germany here in Bukavu! Melanie and Irina have arrived safe and sound at the boarder in Bukavu on tuesday afternoon where we picked them up. Thanks and honor be to a friend of ours who has picked them up at Kigali Airport, hosted them for the night and accompanied them on their 6 hours journey by bus to the boarder of Congo. Thank you, Fahamu!

Even more we are thankful to God who has protected them and overcame all obstacles on their way. Indeed, God has blessed them from the very beginning of their journey to be a blessing to the people here of Congo. Melanie and Irina started their journey with 8 luggages and with a total overweight of 37kg yet payed nothing nor experienced any trouble at the customs and boarders they crossed on their way here - not even at the boarder to Congo! The custom in Bukavu didn't even open a single luggage as a remote family member of Pappy's, who is working there, forbid anyone else to even touch the bags of our visitors. The luggages are full with donations of clothes and medical supplies that we will donate to different organizations and hospitals we are partnering with. One bag went missing on the way, yet we are hopeful it will arrive at Kigali Airport the next few days. 

Thank you everyone back home who has contributed generously financially and otherwise! May God multiply His blessings in your life!

Together we had a great first evening with all of Pappy's brothers and three other friends who had offered us their car and helped us crossing the boarder from Rwanda to Congo together with our visitors. On top of that we enjoyed a good dinner with a medley of Congolese and German food and fruits!

The following days we will be quite busy visiting different organizations, hospitals and some more remote areas near Bukavu. The program has been set up and arranged by Pastor Bulambo working for "Heritier de Justice". For you to be able to still join us in prayer and thoughts you can follow our program below. Thank you for being a part of us!

Wednesday 24/04

  9:30 - 10:45 Reception and Welcome at RL CELPA 

11:00 - 12:00 Visit "Hope in Action"

14:00 - 15:00 PREV (Programme de Réinsertion des Enfants Vulnérables)

15:00 - 17:00 CAMPS (Centre d'Assistance Médicopsychosociale)

Thursday 25/04

  8:00 - 10:00 LAV (Laisser Afrique Vivre)

10:30 - 15:00 Panzi Hospital

15:30 - 18:00 Reception and Dinner at Dr Isokelo

Friday 26/04

  9:30 - 12:00 SOS Chldren's Village

13:30 - 15:30 Centre Olame

17:00 - 19:00 Reception and Dinner at Nicolas (he is the pastor of the church Pappy and Svenja are attending)

Saturday 27/04

Trip to Kalehe. A village where the organization "Laisser Afrique Vivre" is running a center for women and girls affected by sexualized violence and several other projects.

Monday 29/04

  9:00 - 13:00 Héritier de Justice

15:00 - 17:00 Aprodeped

Tuesday 30/04

  9:30 - 13:00 Programme Paix et Réconcilitation/ECC

13:00 - 14:30 War Child

15:00 - 17:00 UNFPA

Wednesday 01/05 - public holiday!

14:00 Reception and Lunch at Pasteur Bulambo

Thursday 02/05 - Friday 03/05

Trip to Mwenga - another city in the west of Bukavu

Saturday 04/05

10:00 - 12:00 Civil Society of South Kivu

13:00 - 14:00 Caucus des femmes

Monday 06/05 

Trip to Ngweshe, a rural area outside of Bukavu, where we will be visiting CELPA Ibanda and Mushinga, the village where Pappy was born and his family used to live before the war started

Tuesday 07/05 

Departure to Goma via boat

Yes, we are blessed to get connected to all of these organizations, explore the territory, learn from the local people and experience more of God's guidance, protections and blessings!

Our experiences throughout the next few day will surely follow very soon!

With much love from all of us, 

Irina, Melanie, Svenja, Pappy and Dejoie

This is our team with Dr. Isokelo close to Panzi Hospital

Nana

It was already very dark when we met Nana on tuesday night at around 7 o'clock on the street in front of Nyawera. Nana is 6 years old. She was alone.

My brother Dejoie and I realised she was following us, while we were trying to cross the main street at Nyawera, a market in the center of Bukavu. As most African markets, Nyawera is crowded with all different kinds of people, there are cars, motortaxis, buses everywhere and everyone is on the move trying to push its way through. It is indeed not a safe place for a 6 year old girl to be alone - especially not at this time of the night. 

Both Dejoie and I felt reminded of our younger sister Diane, who was raped at the age of seven. Concerned about the danger this precious young girl could face alone at night, we felt compelled to talk to her and find out what she was doing all alone. We wanted to know where she was going so that we could accompany on her way home.

As we started talking to her, she couldn't look into our eyes nor could she explain where her parents were or where she was staying. With nowhere to go, my brother and I knew we couldn't just leave the girl all by herself. We offered her to stay with my family for the night where she will be given food and a safe shelter to sleep. Without even asking she agreed to come with us and we continued our walk together towards my parent's home.

On the way to our house she started to guide us in another direction and we figured she might have recognised a familiar place and recaptured where she was staying. To our surprise she took us to a military camp, where we found her mother sitting in a corner, hopeless and weak. 

What is a young girl and her mother doing at a military camp? We were quite shocked.

The joy of mother and daughter being reunited didn't last very long as the mother started telling us the story of how they got here.

Nana and her mother are not from Bukavu but from a village in another region. They have just gotten to town few days ago, when Nana's father and the husband of Nana's mother was sent to prison - she didn't tell us the reason why. As prisoners don't get food to eat while being in custody, they followed her husband and father to provide him with food while in prison. 

With nowhere to go Nana and her mother found "refuge" in a military camp where they were offered a place to spend the nights at. She didn't want to give us any more details as to who invited them to stay there and under what conditions they could rest there.

Without no money to buy food for the father nor themselves, yesterday afternoon Nana decided to go and look for food in the city herself. As it got darker and the city is a completely unfamiliar place to her, she got completely lost and her mother didn't know where her daughter had gone.

Other then giving them some money to buy food for the next day, there was nothing else my brother and I could have possibly done for Nana and her mother. We were told to leave the military camp and as it had already gotten late, it was also time for us to get our feet on safer ground and back towards the city center. We said good bye and told them we would like to visit them again in few days. 

Yes, Nana and her mother were finally reunited. Yet the place we had to drop her was not a safe place for a young mother and her child to be alone. It didn't feel good. All in all it felt wrong and our hearts were more than broken for this young girl and her mother.

It was one of these moments where God was telling me: You are here for a purpose that I have given you. This is part of a bigger picture that I am going to reveal to you. And again, as I was laying in bed pondering about what had happened, God was speaking to me though the daily bible verse of the Herrnhut Brüdergemeinde:  ' "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit", says the Lord of hosts.' Zechariah 3:4. 

It is not by my might, it is not all in my responsibility, the burden is too much to carry myself. God is never asking more of me than what I am capable of. It is where my strength ends and boundaries are, that I can give everything into the hands of my Father and He can come with His Spirit and His sovereignty to reign in order to save and restore. What a great God we serve!

Unfortunately my phone was not able to get a clear picture of Nana and her mother during the night, but at least you can now imagine their faces to the story. We commit Nana and her mother into the hands of our Father who as a Shepherd will take care of His sheep.

Experiencing violence

Dear friends, 

yesterday we were able to not only witness social injustice happening everyday here in the DRC, but we also experienced it ourselves.

It all started with a big demonstration of around 80 women in front of the regional Security Council. Apparently those women had their money stolen from them by another lady who had offered them her help and financial backup to start a microfinancing business in order for those poor women to become financially independent and better off in a long run. After those poor ladies had invested almost all of their money, the lady, who was supposed to help them, disappeared together with their money. Yesterday was the hearing in front of the  Security Council and the case was supposed to be brought to justice. 

As Svenja is living in the government quarter, the demonstration was happening just around the corner from where she is living at the moment. When me, Pappy, and my younger brother, Dejoie, picked up Svenja yesterday afternoon, we were able to witness this demonstration of women. It was good to see them gathering together and raising their voice against the injustice that had happened to them. So I took out my camera to capture this scenario on the street.

We had already passed the security council's building, when the security guards discovered my camera and all of a sudden came running towards me and my brother trying to violently take away my camera without having asked any information about what we were doing and why. As we refused, the situation escalated and we were thrown to the ground getting ripped off our shirts. Yet after few minutes we were able to free ourselves and continued our walk. It was obvious that the security guards were just after our money, that is why they let us go that easily after we have resisted.

Shortly after everything had happened, we met our friend Christopher, who is working for US AID and the Civil Society here in Bukavu. We reported the incident and he immediately took all the information and contact details of the ladies that had demonstrated on the streets and witnessed the incident and violence against us. Their case will be brought to Kinshasa and followed up from there.

Furthermore our friend Christopher immediately contacted the Head of Security responsible for the whole region of South-Kivu, where Bukavu is located in. Shortly after were invited to his house and could report everything to him as well. We showed him the video that had captured everything and he was able to identify three of the security guards that had attacked me and my brother. He told us that those guys are uneducated young men that once became victims of social injustice themselves. Out of fear those guys would start a rebellion the state put them in charge of security for the Security Council - this is a very common procedure and process here in Congo - nothing unusual. He immediately called the Head of the Security Council, in front of whose house the incident had happened. She officially apologized to us, telling us she didn't know her security guards reacted with violence and violated our rights for no reason. We will have a meeting with her the following week. The security guards that had attacked us will face justice and will most likely be suspended as a consequence of their behavior. 

At the end of our conversation the Head of Security of South-Kivu gave us his private phone number. In case we are experiencing any troubles with authorities while we are here, one call will be sufficient for him to speak up on our behalf and solve the issue right away. 

Friends, this violence and social injustice has become normal in Congo. A society that has been traumatized by violence and conflict for so many years, has started to use those violent pattern as the only way to respond to conflict. It is a complete paradox.

We had the chance to report our case and the case of those women to the highest people in charge of security here in the South-Kivu region, but what about all the other victims and cases that are not heard or kept secret for years? What about those who don't have the resources and connections like we have?

As we are about to raise an awareness about all of this through our project, we are not surprised to encounter things like that. The head of the Security Council and head of Security of South-Kivu have both asked us to forgive Congo and the people who have offended us. We continue to forgive them and ask God to open the floodgates of heaven to overwhelm Congo and its brokenhearted people with his showers of healing, justice, peace, reconciliation and love. We know we are safe in the hands of our Savior and Father who has protected us once again.

Friends, did you know what was the daily bible verse from the Herrnhut Brüdergemeinde for yesterday? It was from Isaiah 38,14: "O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security". I think all of you, who are reading this right now, are just as overwhelmed as we were, when we reflected upon this revelation. God was never silent, he still is not silent and will never be, instead he is speaking to us this very moment - what does that really mean to us?! 

Thank you for all your prayers, you can all see how very important, powerful and essential they are! 

This picture was taken when me, my brother Dejoie and Christopher, our friend working for US AID here in Bukavu, were speaking to those women asking them about their case.

Life in Congo

It is our third week in Bukavu now and life starts to become more normal as daily routines settle in. 

As strange and wrong as it sounds, it becomes normal to see women walking on the streets carrying big and heavy merchandise to sell and make a living out of it. 

It becomes normal to see beggers on the markets wounded from fights in the war and having them follow you for the next hundred meters.

It becomes normal to see sibblings walking around town with their yellow water containers trying to find running and clean water. 

It becomes normal to see people throwing their trash everywhere because there is no proper system to take care of it otherwise. 

It becomes normal to see a convoy of UN cars driving down the streets. 

It is one thing to adjust to those circumstances, yet another challenge to accept them and integrate them in your daily life. Yet in this process of learning, we experience God's heart and purpose for us and His people here in Congo. 

The picture on the left is from tuesday afternoon on the way back from Svenja's work. These two street kids urged us to take a picture with them. After they followed us the whole way and talked to us about their lives we bought some food and ate it with them. 

The project continues: 

On Monday, Pappy had another meeting with Pasteur Bulambo. Together they were able to work out a plan on how Pasteur Bulambo and his organization can practically partner with us for our project and schedule meetings to interview different people the coming weeks.

Furthermore we had a meeting with a colonel of the Congolese Armee, who is stationed in the outskirts of Bukavu. Currently he is negotiating with an armed rebel group who is fighting to take over the rich gold- and coltanmines in the region. He offered Pappy to organize a trip together with the UN to talk to the local population, soldiers of the Congolese armee and those working in the mines.

On Wednesday Pappy had the opportunity to travel, together with his family, to the village where he was born and grew up. He was able to reconnect with many childhood friends, family members and the locals living there and collect their stories. On the picture to right you see Pappy, the woman in the middle is his mom, the women on the right is Pappy's midwife who is still living in the village!

On Thursday we visited Bukavu's biggest market in Kadutu, where mostly women are selling food, second-hand clothes - basically everything that could possibly bring them some money to sustain their families. The place is crowded, dirty, loud - yet a place where women live and work day in day out.

Good news: Pappy found a room!

This morning we had an appointment with a befriended landlord who generously offered Pappy an apartment to rent for the next 4 months. He also agreed to rent out the apartment next to Pappy's for all of our friends and team members to stay while they are visiting us. The apartment is located in one of the safest areas in Bukavu - since war began it has never been attacked by any armed group.

As it has been a struggle to find a safe place to stay, we praise God for literally opening this door for us and our friends while we are here. 

Friends: you are more than welcome to come and join us here!

International Women's Day

Always expect the unexpected - this is indeed part of our life here in Congo! 

Last week while walking on the streets of Bukavu we randomly met a good friend of Pappy, who spontaneously invited us to join the festivities for the "Journée Internationale de la Femme" (International Women's Day) on the 26th and 27th of March. What we thought would be a small celebration turned out to be a two-days festivity organized by the Civil Society of South-Kivu. 

Tuesday afternoon was a big celebration where prizes were given to 20 women and 20 men who are working for various institutions fighting for the rights of girls and women affected by sexualized and domestic violence in the South-Kivu Region of the DRC. Among many representatives of different human rights organizations, we had the chance to talk to advocates, doctors and members of government who are investing in the improvements of rights and wellbeing of all females affected by war. The founder of the organization "Laisser Afrique Vivre", invited us to have dinner at his house on Saturday and share with us his experiences during a private interview. Pappy had the chance to also reconnect to Dr. Kabanga, medical director at the Evangelical Hospital in Bukavu, who will arrange a meeting for us the following week. We also had the chance to connect with a representative member of the MONUSCO in Bukavu. We pray for all of those connections, God willing, to grow and bear fruits concerning our project.

On wednesday we were invited to spend the day at "Panzi Hospital", where Dr. Mukwege and his team of doctors, nurses and lawyers presented their work, strategy and shared their daily experiences. Another group of survivors of sexualized violence honestly shared their stories and perspective of war. It truly was a privilege to be part of this gathering and get an insight into the many issues the society is struggeling with. During the closing ceremony and open-air concert with Barbara Kanan on wednesday evening we were seated in the first row next to the president of the Civil Society who invited us to have a private interview in her office the coming week. The whole celebration ended with the slogan: "Ca suffit" meaning "It's enough". Women in the DRC have suffered enough. It is time for Congolese women and men to rise up and get the respect they deserve. It was a touching moment when all of a sudden the spectators and participants started dancing, singing and raising their voices celebrating a breakthrough of peace they want to see established in their country. Whistles where distributed and within minutes we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of people making noise, dancing, singing... and this was just a glimpse of the potential that lies withing the Congolese culture!

Apart from that event, Pappy had a meeting with Pastor Bulambo, head of the organization "Heritier De Justice", who has agreed to partner with us on our project and arrange meetings with influential people of different parties and groups involved in the war. This organization is dedicated to reconcile different armed groups and to encourage those still fighting in the vast forests of Congo to surrender their weapons and join a rehabilitation program. 

For us, it is very encouraging to see that Congolese people here and in the diaspora are rising up to bring about change in their country. We feel that it is the right time for us to be here to learn, explore and give our love to the Congolese poeple!