a) "This agreement angered the government of Uganda, which is engaged in a power struggle with Rwanda over the region. Each country claims to be acting in the interest of their own security"
b) Ituri province has been subject to inter-ethnic fighting between the Hema and Lendu communities. The former are cattle raisers, while the latter are farmers. BOTH GROUPS WERE BACKED AND ARMED BY UGANDA.
Fighting in Volatile Ituri Province Displaces Thousands
African Church Information Service
May 26, 2003
Posted to the web May 27, 2003
Callie Long
Ituri
Fighting between rival militia groups in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has displaced more than 22,000 people.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Goma, a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International (a humanitarian agency), has confirmed that displaced villagers have been pouring into Beni territory from Ituri. They have now reached about 22,515.
According to information from a church in Beni, Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC), this number includes 10,132 children, 7,494 women and 4,434 men, mainly from Bunia, Mungbalo and Drodro. LWF and ECC say the displaced people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
Ituri province has been subject to inter-ethnic fighting between the Hema and Lendu communities. The former are cattle raisers, while the latter are farmers. Both groups were backed and armed by Uganda.
Violence erupted in May 2002 as Ugandan troops left Ituri province due to international pressure. The situation seemed to have stabilised in January this year as the Army of Congolese Patriots (APC) of Thomas Lubanga (a Hema) took full control of Bunia town.
Later, Lubanga signed a bilateral agreement with the Rwanda backed RCD-Goma for military assistance.
This agreement angered the government of Uganda, which is engaged in a power struggle with Rwanda over the region. Each country claims to be acting in the interest of their own security.
Last February, Ugandan troops expelled the Union Patriotique Congolaise (UPC) from Bunia town and restored a fragile peace in the town.
However, Rwanda balked at the thought of Ugandan control over Ituri province, employing the help of the international community to force Ugandan army out of the province.
Again, Ituri was left without a proper interim organised armed force to maintain stability. The 200 policemen sent from Kinshasa were not up to the task.
Thomas Lubanga again moved in, attacking Bunia. Meanwhile, four other independent militias had formed. The fighting in Bunia was uncontrolled and killings and atrocities reached an unprecedented level. Thousands of people were once again displaced.
And now, just when different political factions are meeting in Kinshasa to try and unify the country, following resolutions of the Global and Inclusive Agreement signed in South Africa in March 2003, renewed conflict has beset Ituri.
