Latest News #283
June 7, 2004

The following news concerns DR Congo.

Call for prayer support as riots continue
in DR Congo

KINSHASA, DR Congo — The Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo could begin to experience difficulties in carrying out its programs if the country's security situation continues to deteriorate, according to General Secretary the Rev Christophe Kongo. In a message to United Bible Societies (UBS) Associate General Secretary David Hammond, Mr Kongo described how, with riots breaking out in all the major cities, the peaceful atmosphere at Bible House in Kinshasa has been shattered and staff are in urgent need of prayer support from the UBS fellowship.

DR Congo's latest outbreak of unrest began last week in the eastern town of Bukavu, where rebels who have refused to be integrated into the Congolese army – as directed under last year's peace agreement – clashed with United Nations peacekeepers. The capture of the town by the rebels sparked off a wave of violent protests across the country by people furious at the failure of the peacekeepers to stop them. A number of UN vehicles have been destroyed, according to Mr Kongo, and the riots have caused damage in several places.

With the international community growing increasingly concerned about the future of the peace process in DR Congo, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel has held talks with Congolese President Joseph Kabila and has raised the possibility of European Union troops being sent to help stabilise the situation. In the meantime, Mr Kongo is considering moving Bible Society operations to a safer location outside Kinshasa until calm is restored.