Bukavu: "The situation is dire"
Despatches from our twin diocese of Bukavu in the eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) paint an increasingly bleak picture of life for ordinary people following the occupation of Bukavu city by Rwandan-backed insurgents.
For their own security, the correspondents that sent these updates must remain anonymous.
- Stop Press - latest
Currently, our region is under the control of rebel groups who treat us with inhumane brutality. Access to healthcare, clean water, and electricity has become a luxury beyond reach for many. Children are forced to abandon their education, wandering the streets without hope for a better future.
Each day, we witness looting, sexual violence and the abandonment of women and girls, some coerced into prostitution or theft to survive. Famine is intensifying, claiming innocent lives.
The situation is dire, and the dangers are escalating daily. In this context, your support is a breath of fresh air, a reminder that we are not alone. Your prayers and compassion empower us to continue hoping and striving for a better future. I kindly ask you to continue praying for us, for the restoration of peace, the triumph of justice and the victory of humanity over barbarity. May God bless you abundantly and the entire Christian family of the church of Living Hope for your love and solidarity.
- Bukavu under siege
100 Days of silence, resilience, and suffering
It has been nearly 100 days since the city of Bukavu fell under the control of rebel forces. This prolonged occupation has brought daily life to a near standstill, crippling both public and private institutions. With the government no longer in control, many public services have shut down entirely, forcing employees into temporary unemployment. Banks and microfinance institutions—normally dependent on the central government—remain closed, cutting off the population from their savings and halting all formal financial transactions. Only mobile banking services are still operational, but they offer limited functionality.
For major businesses, the situation has created an environment of high uncertainty and risk. While some companies are waiting for a resolution to the conflict to resume operations, others are cautiously reopening, yet nothing is as it was before.
Non-governmental organisations, too, are struggling. Funding has been disrupted, with many donors suspending support until the situation stabilises. Insecurity in conflict zones continues to hinder humanitarian operations, as reports of clashes between armed groups persist.
Efforts to restore peace are underway at multiple levels, involving local, regional and international partners. However, in a context shaped by competition over natural resources and global geostrategic interests, peace in eastern Congo remains an increasingly complex pursuit.
Meanwhile, the population bears the brunt of this crisis—economically, socially, psychologically and spiritually. Each day brings new burdens, yet the people of Bukavu continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, holding on to hope even when it feels fragile.
This moment calls for renewed solidarity. The suffering in this part of the world must not be ignored. The voices of the voiceless must be amplified and action must be taken to pave the way towards lasting peace.
Just like Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and Sudan, Eastern Congo waits for peace—like a desert waiting for rain.