- By Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, Katanga Base Manager, MAG DRC
Due to a series of armed conflicts that divided the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 1996 and 2003, large parts of the country have suffered from fighting between Government forces, different rebel factions and external militaries. An estimated 3.3 million people are believed to have died as a result, and 2.3 million were displaced. All along the former frontline, the remnants of conflict constitute a serious threat to the resident population, returnees and humanitarian organisations alike, as well as the ongoing peace process in the country.
I recently followed the teams of MAG for 15 days during the rainy season on Lake Tanganyika, in the Katanga province, at the extreme south-eastern part of DRC.
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1. Departure from Pweto. During the rainy season, storms are violent and frequent. The appalling states of the roads, worsened by the heavy rains, makes travels in DRC slow and difficult. |
2. The rain has quickly trapped us; we got stuck for the first time after only travelling two hours and a half. |
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3. Soon after noon, the convoy is stopped. The bridge of Lofuashi has partially collapsed under the weight of the leading vehicle. |
4. Still under the rain. It would take us close to two hours to free the vehicle and hit the road again… |
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5. Offloading the vehicles on the beach. The complete lack of infrastructure in DRC means we had to carry all the fuel necessary for the mission (1,000 litres of fuel carried in five barrels) all the way from Pweto. This fuel had been transported beforehand by trucks from Lubumbashi, close to 800km from here! |
6. This mission on the lake is rather unusual for MAG in Katanga. Many of the team members have never, or rarely, travelled on a boat. So, the Community Liaison Manager (CLM) gives some security instructions, notably concerning the use of the safety jacket, before the departure. |
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7. On the lake as well, the rainy season blusters… |
8. Every evening, we must offload the boat and install the camp, under the inquisitive eyes of the villagers… |
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9. In the evening, storms can be particularly violent… |
10. … and in the morning, we find the camp devastated by pouring rain! |
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11. The Technical Field Manager and CLM examine damaged ammunitions (three RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenades and one grenade) handed over by the Congolese soldiers in Moba. |
12. A Mine Risk Education (MRE) session at Lulongosi school. Children, because they are curious and ignorant, are the most vulnerable to the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO). |
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13. An MRE session at the fish market of Kisike. |
14. An MRE session in the school at Kileba. |
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15. Most of the fighting took place up the hills. Searching for UXO requires walking for several hours in the bushes and often under an oppressive heat. |
16. After being given information by the chief of the village, a deminer is looking for a UXO buried and hidden in the bushes, using a metal detector. |
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17. After walking and searching for several hours, an RPG-7 is finally found. Since it has never been fired, it is safe to move; it will be destroyed later by MAG Mine Clearance Team in a controlled detonation. |
18. Sixteen defective 130mm rocket heads, handed over by the authorities of Kileba, are carefully moved and prepared for demolition. |
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19. Detonating cords and explosive charges are prepared in order to proceed with the demolition of the 16 rocket heads. |
20. Offshore destruction of three RPG-7s and a grenade. |
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21. Offloading of the boat in Moliro, the last village before the border with Zambia. |
22. The road back to Pweto. It will take us close to 18 hours to travel the 270km linking Moliro and Pweto… |
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During our time on Lake Tanganiyka, MAG's teams travelled for more than 250km, visited 16 villages, destroyed 16 130mm rocket heads, four RPG-7, two grenades, and four 60mm mortars, and organised 52 Mine Risk Education sessions for about 4,400 people. |
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23. ...after getting stuck in the mud and puncturing tyres many times. |
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MAG’s work in DRC is currently funded by: Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; DFID (UK Department for International Development); Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission; Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, U.S. Department of State; Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency).
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