MINOVA, DR Congo — Residents of this lakeside town are rebuilding their lives after M23 rebels forced out Burundian and Congolese troops who had occupied the area for months.
“Good riddance,” said Bahati, a local farmer now working his land again. “They destroyed our crops and forced us into camps.”
Burundi had sent about 10,000 soldiers last year to help Congo’s government fight the M23 rebel group. The troops took over hills around Minova, a key trading town near the Rwanda border. They dug trenches on farmland and set up bases with Congolese forces and FDLR militants.
“They wore different uniforms – we couldn’t tell who was who,” said one resident near Bobandana hill, where ammunition and abandoned weapons now litter the ground.
In January, M23 fighters pushed the coalition forces out. Since then, life has slowly returned to normal.
“We can sleep safely now,” said farmer Sifa Mawulizo as she tended her fields. Schools have reopened, though teachers say they haven’t been paid in months.
The hills around Minova had been important military positions. From there, soldiers could see into Rwanda and control supply routes on Lake Kivu. A former FDLR fighter said the plan was to use the area to attack Rwanda, but the strategy failed when M23 advanced.
Today, Minova’s famous cassava bread is being made and sold again. Deborah, a young mother, hopes the soldiers don’t return. “They brought us nothing but trouble,” she said while feeding her baby.
The conflict in eastern Congo has displaced nearly 7 million people. While Minova enjoys peace for now, fighting continues in other parts of the region.
Reporting by The USA New Times Africa Desk
Photos:New Times Rwanda
