Congo the Forgotten Country

We drove 4 hours through the green lush mountains and valleys of Rwanda to Congo. Arriving at the border, our staff from Rwanda began taking our luggage out of the truck. I said "what are you doing, aren't you going with us?" "No" Andre said, "We will pick you up in 2 days."

Our staff from Congo walked us across the border into Goma, Congo. It was like night and day. In 2001 the Nyiragongo Volcano erupted and covered over half of the city in lava. The streets we drove across was lava, the buildings were covered up to the second floor in lava, so people just live on the second floor or build their home on top of the lava. There was no electricity in the entire city, so we drove down the dark streets of Goma.

We arrived at this huge white guesthouse, with flood lights, 10 foot fence and guards at the gate. "This is where you will be staying, we would invite you to stay in our homes, but someone would get you in the night." Mbusa said. (He is our director in Congo).

We ate dinner together, he told us of the situation in Congo. "Congo is surrounded by 9 different countries and all 9 countries send in their solders to kill our people and rape our women. When the refugees came in from Rwanda after the genocide, the militia also came in and started killing and raping. The congonise people are a peaceful people. But after years of attack they have become angry."

Driving through the town the next morning, the volcano was smoking in the distance, waiting to erupt again. How symbolic of the people here, just a smoldering pot waiting to explode. They have been beaten down again and again. A bicycle almost ran into our truck; both drivers jumped out of their vehicles and almost went to blows. The tension was so evident in the atmosphere around us. When will Congo be the next Rwanda?