Equateur: New interdisciplinary MONUC mission in Dongo

Kinshasa, 24 November 2009 – A joint interdisciplinary team from MONUC, including representatives from MONUC Civil Affairs, Human Rights, Blue Helmets, the head of MONUC Mbandaka and the Commander of MONUC’s Western Brigade, arrived today in the village of Dongo, in Equateur province, to investigate the intercommunity confrontations in the past few weeks that left many dead and thousands displaced.

The objective of the mission is to assess the situation there in order to coordinate the efforts with the Congolese government (FARDC/PNC) to improve security for the villages of the area, and to “contribute to the intra-community dialogue in order to settle the disputes,” explained MONUC Military Spokesperson Lt. Col. J.P. Dietrich.

This multidisciplinary visit is the third visit to Dongo since 14 November last. Since the first visit to the scene, approximately twenty Blue Helmets are in Dongo, which is now under the control of the Congolese police. MONUC arranged an aerial support from Mbandaka to give fresh supplies to its troops and personnel on the ground.

Origin of the conflict

The territory of Kungu in the province of Equateur north of Gemena comprises of two villages (Enyele and Monzaya) of the same tribe (the Lobalas), when the two villages came into conflict over the control of an area rich in fish, the main trading commodity.

The situation degenerated into intercommunity conflict in the last days of October 2009, as the Lobalas of Enyele attacked those of Monzaya and those not from the Dongo region.

The lastest clashes occurred in the village of Buburo, which was attacked on Friday last. Although the inhabitants had already fled, this didn't stop the attackers from destroying the houses there, including the UNHCR offices, which had earlier evacuated its staff.

According to the humanitarian agencies and MONUC’s Civil Affairs division that work together around the protective cluster in Mbandaka, 14,669 internally displaced were registered in several sites in Kungu territory after the events. According to the UNHCR, several thousand others took refuge in neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville.