16.11.10 Archbishop of Kisangani tells Fides about city's role in peace efforts

From the geographical and strategic viewpoint, Kisangani is situated in
the heart of Africa. It is a position that allows our city to host
institutions and leaders who can ensure the promotion of peace, not only
for the DRC, but for the entire Great Lakes Region, and of course, for
all of Africa. The war that devastated the DRC in recent years has
caused untold damage to Kisangani, where two foreign armies (Rwanda and
Uganda) have fought for control of the region's resources. Because of
this conflict, we have suffered enormous loss on a human and
psychological level, as well on the material and economic level.

The presence of a U.S. military training mission on the Congolese Army
base in Kisangani could help improve security in the region, creating a
form of persuasion and dissuasion. This base is well established in the
area and there are plans to expand its facilities, to allow formation of
a greater number of Congolese soldiers.

Could you describe the "problem" of the LRA?

The presence of the LRA in the Eastern Province has been reported with
certainty since December 2005. In particular, the rebels of Ugandan
origin have settled in Garamba National Park, which is located within
the ecclesiastical boundaries of the Diocese of Dungu, and within the
administrative district of Haut-Uélé. Over the last three years, the
members of the LRA have started to commit violence on local communities:
the looting of villages, kidnappings, especially of children, rapes,
murders, especially of the elderly. This group now has a regional
configuration that works in the DRC, southern Sudan, and the Central
African Republic. Among its ranks are not only Ugandans, but also those
of Congolese and South Sudanese origin, conscripted by force. The joint
military operation conducted two years ago by the Ugandan Army and the
Congolese Army against the LRA has not only neutralized the LRA, but has
made its members scatter into small groups in Haut- Uélé, as well as in
Bas-Uélé and the Central African Republic. The decision of the
governments of Uganda and the DRC to seek a purely military solution to
the problem has not achieved the expected results but, in contrast, has
added to the fury of the guerrillas who have increased violence against
civilians. Thus, even those of Central African have been forcibly
recruited by the LRA. Faced with this tragic humanitarian and security
situation, we have stated that the Church cannot remain indifferent. For
this reason, I took the initiative to convene in Kisangani, February 2
to 4, 2010 (see Fides 02/05/2010), an International conference of
religious leaders – not only Catholics but also Anglicans, Protestants
and Muslims of the areas affected by the violence of LRA: the Eastern
Province of the DRC, Uganda (Gulu Province), South Sudan (Juba and
Yambio). Representatives of Central Africa were also invited, but were
unable to intervene.

What were the aims of the Conference you convened?

The conference allowed us to fully understand the problem of the LRA
and, in particular, the damage that its members have caused in our
countries. We realized that the humanitarian and social needs are
immense, as are the needs for safety. The displaced people are without
food (because the crops were looted by the rebels), health care, and
education.

In the concluding document of the conference, we proposed some
recommendations. Among these, I remember the call to the international
community to assist the displaced populations, providing them with food
and essential services (health and education), as well as safe places
for the collection. In terms of security, we have asked the governments
involved to do everything possible to ensure the protection of
civilians. Finally, to definitively resolve this issue, we launched an
appeal to the four countries involved asking that they develop a common
security policy.

Is there any hope for the future?

The conference in Kisangani is having results. We are pleased that the
representatives of the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and Central Africa
recently met in Bangui, to take a common position on the problem of the
LRA (see Fides 10/15/2010). We hope that these meetings with the
government multiply. As religious leaders, we have a dynamic that has
already been developed, because after the meeting in Kisangani we held
another conference in July in Dungu (DRC) and a third in September in
Yambio, in southern Sudan (see Fides 14/09/2010). In February 2011, we
will hold a fourth conference, probably in Central Africa. A preparatory
meeting was held in Entebbe (Uganda), where they discussed ways to do
lobbying and advocacy work. In our resolutions, we have decided to
create a regional committee with the task of bringing the message of the
religious leaders to the governments of our 4 countries. But we will
not stop here, because we want to involve the European Union and the
African Union to make them aware of this problem. We are ready to take
up the pilgrim's stick as defender and herald of peace.” (L.M.) (Agenzia
Fides 15/11/2010)