To: Africa Advocates
From: Tammy Alexander, Legislative Associate
Date: October 9, 2007
Re: Increased Tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Issue:

In recent weeks, fighting between government and dissident forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has intensified, with increasing numbers of troops being deployed to the front line and more being forcibly recruited. Civilians inevitably are caught in the crossfire, and the prevailing climate of impunity allows all sides to exploit the local population without fear of consequences.

Background:

Dissident Congolese Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda's more than 3,000 loyal forces have carved out control of parts of North Kivu Province. The Congolese government has responded by realigning itself with the FDLR – a militia composed of more than 6,000 Rwandan Hutu rebels, many with links to the 1994 genocide in their home country – to fight Nkunda's more effective force. This threatens to draw Rwanda back into Congo's conflict, which could lead to rapid escalation and potentially plunge Congo back into regional war. (For more information, go to www.enoughproject.org.)

MCC works in the DR Congo to support peace workshops, radio broadcasts about peace and a peace newsletter in South Kivu through a partner organization, Peace and Reconciliation Council (COPARE). MCC also supports the peace work of the Mennonite Church of the Great Lakes and the Church of Christ of Congo, both of which are located in Congo's troubled eastern region (www.mcc.org/congo/).

Faith Reflection:

With all of the conflicts in the news today, places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo can often be forgotten. The U.S. Congress is focusing much of its attention on Iraq, and on a few other high-profile conflicts, such as Darfur. But it is important to remind them that we care just as much for people in places like the DR Congo, where the suffering is just as real and where the lack of attention and action can lead to an even greater tragedy.

As faithful children of God we are called to speak for those whose voices are not heard: "Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). We must urge our elected officials to use strong diplomacy to avert crises in places like the DR Congo, before they escalate into more violence and more unnecessary human suffering.

Action:

Call or write your members of Congress (www.house.gov, www.senate.gov, or (202) 224-3121) and urge them to:

• Provide more funding and technical assistance in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR)
• Press for high level diplomacy, in coordination with our allies, to resolve the crisis in eastern Congo

Visits, e-mails, phone calls, faxes and letters are all good ways to contact your legislators. E-mails, phone calls and faxes are good for time-sensitive issues. Postal mail travels slowly in the Capitol, but letters have long-term impact. Be sure to include your mailing address in all correspondence to confirm your residency in a particular district and state.

We would be grateful for copies of your correspondence and any responses you receive! Please send them to

* This Hotline was adapted from an alert by Enough (www.enoughproject.org), an advocacy group with which MCC works in Washington, DC.