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Refugees Blame DRC's Chronic Violence on Battle for Mineral Wealth

Halima Athumani

   KYANGWALI, UGANDA - For decades, the eastern Democratic Republic of
   Congo -- the Ituri and North Kivu provinces especially -- has endured
   ethnic violence leaving thousands dead and many more seeking refuge in
   neighboring countries.

   Fifty-four-year-old Mwamoyo Shantal has lived in a Ugandan refugee
   settlement for six years now, after fleeing violence in Congo's North
   Kivu province.

   When she arrived, Shantal found long lost family members who had fled
   the same region during what's known as the First Congo War in 1996 and
   1997.

   Shantal explains why she thinks fighting has persisted since the end of
   the 32-year rule of the late Mobutu Sese Seko.

   "He held the country like he owned it all alone. During the fighting,
   it seems they discovered that Congo has minerals. So, everyone is now
   fighting for the wealth in Congo," she said.

   DRC refugees continue to arrive at the Ugandan border by the boatload,
   across Lake Albert.

   Refugee Joshua Oshaki says he lost contact with his wife during
   fighting in the DRC's Ituri region, but managed to escape with his two
   children.

   "In the beginning the conflict was tribal. Different tribes would fight
   each other. The Hema and the Lendu would be joined by the Wangiti and
   other tribes. They would kill each other. Currently, the fighting has
   faces of government soldiers and civilians," he said.

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