DRC: Ethnic exclusions, the worst is still avoidable

Signs of ethnic exclusion that are becoming more and more visible in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo could engender extremely serious humanitarian consequences, if they were pushed to their paroxysm.
Resulting from a process of political and economic exclusion, the events in Bukavu in June 2004 were merely the military materialisation of a feeling of rejection of the populations called 'rwandophones' and especially the Banyamulenge, Congolese Tutsis.

Distribution of leaflets of a xenophobic nature throughout the main towns of the East can only add to the growing anxiety of the situation. A phenomena of rejection that, does not target the Rwandophones exclusively, as the distribution of leaflets against the Bashi in Goma illustrates.

The pursuit of confrontations between General Nkunda's men, presenting himself as their defendor, and the rest of the DRC armed forces, has shaken the possibility of a pacific cohabitation amongst the Congolese components.

The hard facts are that there thousands of displaced people or refugees in neighbouring countries, as a result of the insecurity created by these combats, who today have enormous difficulties in finding a place in their society once more.

A witness to this is the live animosity manifested on the 24 September by the population of Uvira, when 366 Banyamulenge, survivors of the massacre of Gatumba in Burundi, wanted to return to their home. The climate of extreme tension in town incited therefore the authorities of the 10th military region to not open the border to them before the population was sensitised to this homecoming. They spent 2 nights outside in the rain before being transferred to a transit camp under high surveillance. From 3rd of October, some of them went returned to the Uvira quarters, Bibokoboko or will go to Minembwe, under military escort, in the middle plateaux, which is a zone put under the control of General Mazunzu, a Munyamulengese himself.

However, this episode risks being only the preamble of a greater humanitarian crisis. Despite the fact that the HCR estimated that the security conditions were not favourable for the return of refugees, 1200 others, of diverse ethnic origins, arrived at the border on 7th of October. The FARDC and the MONUC tried to persuade them to return to their camp for a few days, the time needed to prepare their return.

Considering the virulent reaction of September 24th, a huge sensitisation of the population and an active plea to the civil/military authorities will be necessary in order to allow the arrival of this group of people into the Province of South Kivu, under the best conditions.

Apart from the dramatic consequences of a possible rejection by the population of this massive arrival, the question of humanitarian assistance for these people and their reintegration into their homeland is raised. Their homes are often taken over by other occupants, which forecasts many land problems.

This humanitarian situation could get worse in the case where the authorities chose, as has been announced, to repatriate first 3,600 Congolese refugees from Tanzania as a measure of equity, but also to dedramatize the return of the Banyamulenge.

This malaise coming from ethnic exclusion exists also throughout national territory. Shifts in population are therefore characteristic of this antagonism .The retaking of Kalehe territory by the 10th military region and the retreat north of General Nkundas' troops resulted in two types of displacement. Rwandophone civilians, as a preventative measure, have fled towards Masisi and North Kivu . At the same time, non-Rwandophone populations who had been displaced in July on the banks of lake Kivu and its islands, are returning to their village of origin since the insurgent troops' departure.

The reaction also of certain inhabitants of Bukavu, who threw stones at a MONUC vehicle that was transporting a civilian of Tutsi aspect, betrays the general state of mind in which the population finds itself.

This phenomenon of exacerbation of ethnic differences, nonetheless, is not irreversible. A stronger implication from the international community could reverse the trend. A reinforcement in the presence of the international actors, in particular humanitarian, in these sensitive zones is also desirable. In fact, experience shows a clear reduction of excesses resulting solely from the implantation of organisations in any given zone. This first proposition should then be supported by the implementation of action by the international community, amongst which would be pressure and advocacy.