Peace-keeping and growing insecurity

Today in Goma we were due to start the second phase of preaching training for 60 clergy, evangelists and theology students. However, civil society groups declared the day ‘ville morte’ (dead city) and encouraged everyone including day labourers, market traders, motorbike taxis and schoolchildren to stay at home by strewing rocks on the road.

Their demand is that MONUSCO, the $1billion / year UN peace-keeping force, leave DRC as soon as possible, saying that they have made no tangible difference to peace and security in the east. President Tshisekedi has promised they will be gone before the next elections in December 2023, but for many this is not soon enough. The last demonstrations in July spread from Goma to other cities in the east, turned violent and resulted in 36 deaths.

Part of the context is that the M23 rebel movement, with strong historical links to the Rwandan government, is still in control of Congolese towns on the Ugandan border. Presidents of both Rwanda and DRC agreed last week that they needed to withdraw, although no details were given. With the increase in numbers of Congolese and Ugandan troops tackling the rebel groups in the east some of the larger of those groups have retreated into the forests and resorted to more guerrilla-style tactics, making their attacks more indiscriminate.

Gangs of opportunist criminals are also taking advantage of the insecurity and last week one of our parish evangelists was attacked by men with machetes in his home. His goat was slaughtered, his phone and money stolen and he and his wife had to be taken to hospital afterwards. This is the current daily reality for millions in the east.

Other news

Thank you to those who gave to and prayed for our youth event in August. We had 680 people from every corner of the diocese coming together for 3 days to learn what is means to be peace-makers following in the footsteps of Jesus. They arrived with potatoes, flour, oil and rice for the conference, which was supplemented through external donations. They left encouraged and inspired to bring peace and reconciliation to their own communities.

We also have a missionary couple from Australia who have joined us in Goma, after having spent a year language learning in Bukavu on the other side of the lake. David and Jenny are here for 6 or 7 years to train leaders in the church.

Anthea’s new job at Give Directly

In August Anthea started a new job as DRC Country Director for Give Directly. Give Directly is a US based nonprofit who started in 2009, trying to bring people out of poverty through giving cash transfers, usually via mobile phones. Since Anthea started her new job, Give Directly has appointed a new President/CEO, Rory Stewart who has spoken extensively about his decision to join the organisation in his well-known podcast and also to the UK press.

In DRC Give Directly currently has about 70 staff and the country office is based in Goma. It is an exciting time to join the organisation and as Country Director Anthea will get to focus just on DRC (her previous job was regional and therefore covered six countries). She is still able to walk to work and is enjoying a new challenge.

Please pray for

• For peace in eastern Congo

• For youth discipleship across the diocese

• That David and Jenny settle in quickly and are able to start investing in the lives of individuals in the church

• For Anthea to get to grips quickly with her new role

From Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen