The DR Congo's

Ituri region, a grim

photographic exposure

Fighting near the town of Bunia in northeastern DR Congo has become worse and shows no end in sight. We believe a detailed analysis of the situation in this region will show that there are Ugandan fingerprints on the feud that now exists between the Hema and Lendu, fingerprints linked to the Ugandan desire to keep forces in the region and maintain control over certain Congolese resources. For its part, the Kinshasa government has been so inept in taking the initiative in this area that one almost laments the day when Mobutu was forced to leave. The UN, of course, remains useless.

May 17, 2003, updated May 19.|

Fighting near the town of Bunia in northeastern DR Congo has become worse

and shows no end in sight. Most synopses you might read on the wire services

say the problem is one between armed militias linked with rival Hema and Lendu

tribes. Many hundreds have died over the past few years and hundreds of

thousands have been displaced.

Our view of the problem takes on a different perspective. We believe that the Hema and Lendu lived well together for the most part prior to the 1998 Ugandan and Rwandan invasion of this region and others.We believe a detailed analysis of the situation in this region will show that there are Ugandan fingerprints on the feud that now exists between the Hema and Lendu, fingerprints linked to the Ugandan desire to keep forces in the region and maintain control over certain Congolese resources. The Ugandan foreign ministry, of course, rejects this allegation, saying quite recently that it has no influence over the Congolese groups in this region. In our view, that is a lie.

We now believe that the Government of the DR Congo, led by President

Joseph Kabila, lacks the intestinal fortitude and/or will to bring this region

back into its territorial sphere and get the situation under control. This

government appears inert, passive, uncaring, and lacking in courage. In all

candor, this government and the one the preceded it, led by Kabila's father,

Laurent, have been so inept that one almost laments the day when Mobutu

was forced to leave, forced by the way through the 1996 Rwandan and

Ugandan invasion.

We further believe that the UN peacekeeping force sent to the Congo long ago is among the most worthless UN endeavors ever undertaken. There are said to be about 700 UN troops in the area, but they are there only to watch events unfold and protect themselves and their own equipment.

There is said to be an "urgent" movement at the UN Security Council to beef up the force, and France apparently wants to send its troops, as does South Africa. But France has set down some conditions. It wants Britain to send forces as well, it wants a time limit set for the deployment, pending arrival of other UN peacekeepers, mainly from Bangladesh, and it wants Ugandan and Rwanda agreement to this urgent deployment. Uganda and Rwanda are said to be dragging their feet on providing such approval. This is all a waste of time and money unless the rules of engagement are changed. We are very skeptical about all this. We do not understand why Rwandan and Ugandan approval is needed for anything. This is Congolese territory, and only approval from the Kinshasa government is needed. The requirement for a British contribution is purely political. We believe the French are playing games.

All that said, Karel Prinsloo, a photographer of events in Africa for the

Associated Press we greatly admire, has given us a seldom seen view into

the region, as have a few other photographers. We thank them for getting this

story told, and urge them to show us more, especially the Lendu.

What a dumb mission. This UN guy is there to protect UN equipment, UN people and the UN compound. A displaced Congolese woman carrying her belongings walk past a United Nation soldier from Uruguay positioned outside the United Nations compound, May 19, 2003, in Bunia. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Two automatic rifles make this lady "Queen Bee." A woman fighter of the rebel Union of Congolese Patriots who currently control much of the Congolese town of Bunia, Congo, stands inside their barracks, May 19. 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

We need to understand the meaning behind these trenchcoats! Fighters of the rebel Union of Congolese Patriots who currently control much of the Congolese town of Bunia, Congo, guard their barracks, May 19, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Have automatic rifle, will travel. Congolese displaced people leave the U.N. compound in Bunia on their way home as Hema militia members pass them on a motorbike, May 18, 2003 . Hundreds of residents streamed to their homes in the troubled northeastern Congolese town of Bunia as calm returned to the town after more than a week of tribal fighting, looting and killings. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

It is immoral to leave humans to this end. A dog and ducklings circle a corpse in a deserted street in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Grim, grim, grim. A Congolese man walks past corpses in a street in Bunia, Saturday, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Thugs in trench coats or soldiers? Hema-allied rebel Congolese Patriotic Union (UPC) soldiers hold their guns in the streets of Bunia, May 17, 2003. A cease fire signed by Congolese President Joseph Kabila and members of militia groups fighting for the town of Bunia in eastern Congo took effect on this date. Photo credit: Anjuguna Njuguna, Reuters.

The guy with the rifle looks like a happy camper, eh? Hema militia soldiers, including a woman, play with grenades near the UN compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Happiness is an automatic rifle. Armed Hema militia soldiers stand at a checkpoint near the UN compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Osama Man! A Hema militia soldier wearing a shirt with the portrait of Osama Bin Laden greets a girl near the U.N. compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Does UN have its eyes on the right targets? UN peacekeepers from Uruguay keep an eye on displaced people walking past their armored personnel carrier outside the UN compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Shouldn't UN eyes be on the combatants? Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

The forgotten reality. A Congolese man holds his wounded friend's hand at a makeshift hospital outside the U.N. compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

His pain cuts through your heart. A Congolese man attempts to move his wounded son into a more comfortable position at a makeshift hospital outside the U.N. compound in Bunia, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Displaced from their homes, crowded into a UN camp, no end in sight. Congolese refugees crowd together at the U.N. compound in Bunia, Saturday, May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

The look in her eyes says it all. A Congolese woman rest together with other refugees at the UN compound in Bunia, Saturday May 17, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

More punk thugs, or do you see them as soldiers? Child soldiers armed with AK 47 rifles stand near the United Nations compound in Bunia, May 16, 2003 in the Congo. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

A UN escort, whoopee-ding! A child runs behind an armored vehicle as United Nations peacekeepers escort Congolese refugees to the Bunia airport from where they will be evacuated, May 16, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

The daunting look of a child in despair. A Congolese child waits to be evacuated at Bunia airport, while UN planes can be seen in the reflection of a window, May 16, 2003, in the Congo. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

More UN troops arrive to do nothing. United Nations peacekeepers from Uruguay arrive at Bunia airport, May 16, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

A UN peacekeeper helps a Congolese boy onto a truck at the UN compound as some civilians are evacuated to Bunia airport, May 16, 2003. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

See the UN soldiers? They worry not about the Congolese, but about protecting themselves. A Congolese policeman pours water for civilians stranded outside Bunia airport while UN peacekeepers man the entrance to the airport, May 16, 2003 in the Congo. Photo credit: Karel Prinsloo, AP

Terrorized Congolese citizens in UN compound. Displaced refugees at the UN Compound in Bunia, May 15, 2003. Fighting raged outside the U.N. compound sheltering 10,000-plus terrorized civilians against fighting in the eastern Congo city. U.N. officials and others have warned of a possible genocide in Bunia and elsewhere in the Ituri province. Photo credit: Oxfam, AP

These Ugandans have been up to dirty tricks. The last group of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) push their antiaircraft gun past a UN Antonov 12 helicopter, 06 May 2003 following their withdrawal from Ituri Province Eastern in DR Congo. Photo credit: Peter Busomoke, AFP

Now don't they look pretty? Too bad they do nothing. Senegalese soldiers, taking part in the UN Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as MONUC. Photo credit: Seyllou, AFP

cascito@hotmail.com

© Mai 2003 copyright