DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila tours the eastern part of his country and speaks to people who have borne the brunt of the violence in the region
Record ID:
455087
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila tours the eastern part of his country and speaks to people who have borne the brunt of the violence in the region
- Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila tours the eastern part of his country and speaks to people who have borne the brunt of the violence in the region
- Date: 10th March 2009
- Summary: KIWANJA, EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MARCH 9, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONGO'S PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA'S CONVOY MOVING ALONG ROAD MAN DANCING A GROUP OF WOMEN DANCING AND CHEERING KABILA SOLDIERS WALK PAST CROWD IN SINGLE FILE FORMATION (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) BWIZA NTO, DISPLACED WOMAN, SAYING: "Kabila brings us peace, we are suffering a lot because of war, and he's already brought us back to normality. I am a displaced woman, who's just come out of a MONUC camp. All we want is peace." VARIOUS OF CROWD DANCING KABILA'S TRUCK COMING TO A HALT ON ROAD RUTSHURU, EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MARCH 9, 2009) (REUTERS) CROWD CHEERING KABILA WALKING PAST CROWD WAVING CROWD LINING ROAD SOLDIER ON GUARD (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) JOSEPH KABILA, DR CONGO'S PRESIDENT, ADDRESSING THE CROWDS, SAYING: "You have my compassion, as this war lasted a long time, and for all the suffering, the difficulties, for all the fathers and mothers, old and young people of Rutshuru. Secondly, I came to tell you that peace has now come to Rutshuru, peace has now arrived in North Kivu, this peace which I would like us to keep safe so that it doesn't escape us, so we don't fall back into war again. We have paid with many sacrifices for this peace, sacrifices of the children of Rutshuru, the children of North Kivu and of all the Democratic Republic of Congo." MEMBERS OF KABILA'S PARTY HOLDING BANNERS AND DANCING
- Embargoed: 25th March 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA9R8205XQPT8I4FZXE3JR88C6K
- Story Text: DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila tour his country's troubled eastern areas on MOnday (March 9).
Crowds of people who have suffered years of violence by ethnic militias, soldiers in their own army, and Rwandan and Ugandan troops, gathered to hear their leader speak.
"Kabila brings us peace, we are suffering a lot because of war, and he's already brought us back to normality. I am a displaced woman, who's just come out of a MONUC (United Nations Mission in Congo) camp. All we want is peace," said Bwiza Nto, a displaced woman.
It is estimated that 5.4 million Congolese people, mostly in the east, have died over the past decade due to the activities of various armed groups in the region.
Violence has continued in the mineral-rich east despite 2006 U.N.-backed elections, which were meant to usher in peace.
Aid groups say some 1.2 million civilians have been displaced in waves of fighting and the United Nations has been repeatedly accused of failing to protect civilians.
Kabila drew criticism recently when he allowed both Rwandan and Ugandan troops back into eastern Congo in pursuit of rebels.
"You have my compassion, as this war lasted a long time, and for all the suffering, the difficulties, for all the fathers and mothers, old and young people of Rutshuru. Secondly, I came to tell you that peace has now come to Rutshuru, peace has now arrived in North Kivu, this peace which I would like us to keep safe so that it doesn't escape us, so we don't fall back into war again. We have paid with many sacrifices for this peace, sacrifices of the children of Rutshuru, the children of North Kivu and of all the Democratic Republic of Congo," Kabila told a crowd of displaced people in the key town of Rutshuru in North Kivu.
Officials say Kabila will proceed to Goma, North Kivu's capital where he will meet the winners of the inaugural African Football Championships which ended on Sunday (March 8) in Ivory Coast. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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