Global Ministries reports: (April 5, 2010)
"Fighting has erupted in the city of Mbandaka located in the Equator Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been reported by our partners on the ground, as well as National Public Radio, that early Sunday morning (April 4, 2010), while many parishioners participated in Easter morning services, that more than 200 armed soldiers in opposition to government authorities entered the city by river and clashed with government and United Nation troops.
It was reported that some of the troops seized control of the Mbandaka airport while others took control of the city of Mbandaka and its communication networks. Earlier portrayed as an ethnic conflict over fishing rights, the invasion of Mbandaka brings to light the suffering of people in the Equator province that has been silenced by the Kabila government over the past seven or eight months.
In a telephone conversation with a partner on the ground, the Africa Executive learned that church parishioners remained in churches overnight to avoid being caught in the crossfire."
The Global Ministries report continues with more details and gives a link to background information on the fighting.
Our prayers are with our sisters and brothers in the Congo; may God be with them and may God show us how to demonstrate our love for them.
"Fighting has erupted in the city of Mbandaka located in the Equator Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been reported by our partners on the ground, as well as National Public Radio, that early Sunday morning (April 4, 2010), while many parishioners participated in Easter morning services, that more than 200 armed soldiers in opposition to government authorities entered the city by river and clashed with government and United Nation troops.
It was reported that some of the troops seized control of the Mbandaka airport while others took control of the city of Mbandaka and its communication networks. Earlier portrayed as an ethnic conflict over fishing rights, the invasion of Mbandaka brings to light the suffering of people in the Equator province that has been silenced by the Kabila government over the past seven or eight months.
In a telephone conversation with a partner on the ground, the Africa Executive learned that church parishioners remained in churches overnight to avoid being caught in the crossfire."
The Global Ministries report continues with more details and gives a link to background information on the fighting.
Our prayers are with our sisters and brothers in the Congo; may God be with them and may God show us how to demonstrate our love for them.