Beni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and ...
Beni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. The region is characterised by the impenetrable, evergreen forests of the Virunga National Park and the Ituri rainforest. North Kivu has been the scene of civil conflict since the start of the Second Congo War in 2001.
Whereas Beni itself is seen as relatively safe, various militias continue to fight amongst themselves in the surrounding villages. Neighbouring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda have supported the marauding rebel groups for many years. The Congolese army, which was formed from militia groups, is just as corrupt and dangerous to the public as the neglected warlords of the region. In the east of the country, many child soldiers were recruited in the pursuit of lucrative mineral resources. Warlords finance their activities from the diamonds, coltan and many other precious metals which are in abundance here and rarely found elsewhere in the world. The world’s largest UN mission is currently struggling to get the situation under control.
However, the enormous Congolese jungle and the political power struggle surrounding natural resources have meant that the project has failed. UN troops themselves have also been implicated in corruption cases.
Former child soldiers and families who have suffered at the hands of armed gangs have managed to flee to relative safety in Beni. Mass rape is used as a punishment for whole communities and is just one of many unimaginable experiences for the innocent civilians of North Kivu.
To help where it can, Rebound has started a second project in Beni. Former child soldiers can find help here, as can young adults affected by the war in other ways. The local camp is run by Indian UN soldiers and offers a certain sense of security. The mayor of Beni, Mungwana Kasereka, is also governor of the region of North Kivu and attempts to ensure that all militias are kept out of the city.
Beni therefore seems to be the right place for long-term help in this region which has suffered so much chaos and civil strife. This project attempts to offer a ray of hope in the “Heart of Darkness”.
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