The Congo in the Shadow of the Rwandan Genocide

Breaking the Silence

Bringing the truth to light about the war in The Democratic Republic of the Congo

A seminar by Rev. Theodore Ngoy.

This seminar given on the 5th and 7th February at Teesside University was the latest in a series aimed at breaking the silence concerning the situation in DRC.

Reverend Theodore Ngoy is a Congolese Pastor, a Lawyer, an elected MP for Katanga province in the Congo, and former candidate in the Congolese Presidential elections. He was prevented from taking part in the elections due to his abduction and illegal detention. Whilst visiting UK in 2007 in his role as an MP, his house, his lawyer’s office and his Church were deliberately burned down by armed guards of President Kabila. He is living in the UK as a political refugee.

Rev Ngoy’s thesis in these seminars was twofold – both to present the truth about the origins of war in DRC and to gain support for his Congo Reform Association.

His truth was brutal – that war and conflicts in DRC have been fuelled largely for economic reasons to exploit and plunder the resources of the country. Over five million people have died as a result of the war. It is the resources of the Congo that are needed by Western Governments and Businesses. There is a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products from cell phones to digital cameras. The armed groups that are perpetuating the violence generate over $100 million each year from trading in these minerals.
To quote Cynthia McKinnon – a former US Congresswoman

‘The World has been the victim of a disinformation campaign by the Western media, by European and American Governments together with those of Uganda and Rwanda about the origins and reasons for the War in the DRC.’

We were given many examples of atrocities that have been committed which have been reported as tribal conflicts whereas the truth is more complex and based in economics. The country has been artificially divided and Presidents and Politicians within DRC have been supported or undermined, both by their neighbours and by Western governments for economic rather than humanitarian reasons.

For Theodore Ngoy – to remain silent is betrayal. For us – electronic products are part of our everyday lives. Congolese, seeking asylum here, are being sent back to insecurity and danger.

Details of how to get involved in the Congo Reform Association and to offer support to those campaigning on Teesside are available from the e.mail addresses below.

Cath Ramos catherine_ramos@hotmail.co.uk

Eleanor and Michael Garrity email: emg6139@aol.com