GOMA, Congo — Heavy fighting in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, including Baptists.
The conflict between government forces and rebel groups intensified in late August and has made worse a situation that has been unstable for some time.
Reports are that on Aug. 25, dissidents ambushed an army convoy, killing four Congolese soldiers. The government, in retaliation, sent thousands of troops into the region that led to people fleeing their homes in terror.
Pascal Ndihokubwimana, projects officer with the Union of Baptist Churches in Congo, reported, “The situation is becoming bad. Some villages are falling under rebel control and others under government forces. Both sides are killing persons (civilians), accusing them of collaborating with the enemy.”
According to Ndihokubwimana, 210 Baptist families — 563 people — are at the Mugunga refugee camp. These families belong mainly to Baptist churches in the villages of Mizeituni, Karuba, Ngungu, Matanda, Rubaya and Ruhegeri. Others, he said, are hiding in the bush.
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