There have been three conflict areas in DR Congo since August last year. Now Ituri is peaceful, but let us continue to pray for North and South Kivu and North East DRC.
As in November and January, CMS call on Christians to continue to pray:
North and South Kivu
Following the joint Rwanda/DRC military operation to disarm Hutu militia groups in North and South Kivu, DR Congo, some rebels and some villagers have returned to Rwanda. However, FDLR (Hutu militia groups) have re-grouped and are attacking villages.
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All recent DRC updates
Recent attacks took place in the Mwenga district, in the localities of Kilungutwe and Kalama 45km from Mwenga: 463 cases of rape have been reported in the past three months – more than half the number reported in all 2008. Most have been carried out by FDLR, but there have been occasional incidents involving the FARDC (Congolese army) reported.
There are thousands of civilians in internally displaced people’s camps.
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Please pray for Bishop Bahati Sylvestre, Diocese of Bukavu, who is monitoring the situation in the diocese and has appealed for aid so that the diocese can assist some of the widows, orphans and other internally displaced people.
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Please pray for the success of all efforts at demobilisation of militia and restoring peace to eastern Congo.
North-East DRC
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have waged a 20-year war with the Ugandan army. In recent years, they have set up bases in DR Congo, Southern Sudan and Central African Republic.
The joint Uganda/DRC military operation undertaken in January 2009 against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) discovered some high-level camps in Garamba National Park and some leaders were captured.
As a result of the operation, small groups of rebels were formed, who have attacked villages around Dungu, DRC where approximately 100,000 people are sleeping in the open because of the inaccessibility of the area to aid agencies and in Western Equatoria, Sudan, particularly the Yambio area. Thousands of Congolese refugees have set up basic shelters in Makandu Refugee Camp in Western Equatoria, Southern Sudan, where food is a problem.
Concerning Western government responses, in May a bill was passed by the US senate calling on the US government to support a campaign to eliminate the LRA threat. The French government have also called for a further joint offensive to eradicate the LRA, rather than to support peace negotiations.
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Give praise for the return of peace to northern Uganda; pray for peace and an end to LRA rebel activity in both North-East DR Congo and Western Equatoria, Sudan.
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Pray for the efforts of President Museveni and government members of Uganda, Congo and Sudan and Central African Republic to succeed in bringing an end to this conflict caused by the LRA.
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Pray that during this time of insecurity, people would turn to the Lord and be strengthened in their faith.
Situation in Ituri Region
The situation in this area is peaceful, but there is an ongoing need for reconciliation and peace.
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Pray for those who are working for peace and stability in the area of Bunia, especially the church leaders who speak in the powerful name of Jesus.
A Prayer for the People of DR Congo
O God,
Loving parent of all,
comfort your children
displaced, wounded, lost or orphaned by conflict in D R Congo;
and give the people of that country
courage to seek enduring peace with justice and freedom,
that their children might grow up without fear,
for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ
Amen
(Adapted from a Prayer from the Congo Swahili Prayer Book 1998)
Other prayer resources are available on:
http://prayerforpeaceincongo.synthasite.com/
http://congochurchassn.org.uk