Congo rebels close in on eastern capital of Goma

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Guardian

Congolese rebels closed in on the eastern town of Goma today, causing panic among residents and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of international aid workers and UN staff.

Around 45,000 internal refugees, most of whom had only arrived on foot a day earlier, fled a displaced person's camp near Goma as forces loyal to the Tutsi warlord Laurent Nkunda battled international peacekeepers and government troops.

After the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon warned of a humanitarian crisis of "catastrophic dimensions", the rebels announced tonight that they were declaring a unilateral ceasefire "to avoid panicking the population of Goma".

Nkunda's men have already captured a string of key towns near Goma in North Kivu province and raised fears of a return to full-scale war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national army has been routed, and troops were reported to be fleeing Goma.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/29/congo-rwanda

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Their pain never seems to end.

[On the Road]

1. Christ, What a Mess

Not good, not good. I hoped things were improving in eastern Congo, because you never hear about it any more. But three million people have died, and most people have never heard about it anyway.

One can only hope that President Obama will have more interest in African affairs and will take a more active role than other presidents.

[uppityperson]

2. kick and rec and hoping for a ceasefire.

[LeftishBrit]

3. k&r

This is a truly horrible tragedy.

There seems so little to be done; but people who are concerned and have a little money to spare might consider donating to this project:

www.championsprogramme.org/henri.html

or to Peace Direct as an organization

www.peacedirect.org

I have heard Henri speak, and he is really inspiring.