Males threat drowning to flee conscription by rebels

Jordan Bita most popular to threat his life swimming throughout a roaring river than keep at dwelling and be conscripted by rebels in japanese Democratic Republic of Congo.

The 25-year-old clung on to a black bin bag with some possessions as he used the robust currents to navigate his manner throughout the Rusizi river, which types the border between DR Congo and Burundi.

This was the final stage in a determined journey to flee to security in Burundi because the battle in japanese DR Congo escalates, with M23 rebels capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu within the final 5 weeks.

“I managed to flee safely… as a result of I used to be crossing by means of the forest and transferring alongside the bushes as an alternative of the primary highway,” he advised the RAYNAE after climbing up the financial institution on the Burundian aspect and wiping the water from his face.

“It’s because M23 fighters are in every single place and they’re forcing us to affix them to struggle towards the federal government,” he mentioned.

Burundian troops are monitoring the riverbank in Cibitoke province within the north-west the place Congolese households are crossing.

They’re amongst practically 70,000 individuals who have sought refuge right here during the last month because the M23 rebels – backed by Rwanda, Burundi’s neighbours to the north – proceed to advance south in DR Congo.

On the finish of January they took the foremost hub of Goma in DR Congo’s North-Kivu province and in mid-February Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, fell.

Mr Bita’s baggage was totally checked on the orders of Burundian troops – no weapons are allowed in.

Afterwards, he picked up his bag and carried it on his head, making his manner up a steep hill to the closest refugee camp about 12km (seven miles) away within the city of Rugombo.

He’s bringing with him desperately wanted meals – maize meal, peanuts and beans – for his household who’re already at a makeshift camp arrange within the city’s soccer stadium.

One other man, Amani Sebakungu, seemed exhausted and was making an attempt to catch his breath as he emerged from the Rusizi: “Within the river you simply should take coronary heart and say if I die or survive so be it. God willed I crossed safely.”

Because the RAYNAE workforce was interviewing Mr Sebakungu, the Burundian army ordered us all to vacate the realm as M23 rebels had been noticed marching in the direction of the river on the opposite aspect.

Later, trying over from a close-by hill, we may see the rebels in army fatigues strolling in single file and stopping the folks on the Congolese aspect from making the crossing.

The risks these fleeing face are actual.

During the last two weeks, a minimum of 20 folks have been swept away as they tried to swim the 300m (984ft) throughout the river, which at sure factors is 10m deep. It’s thought many different drownings have gone unreported.

Clarice Kacindi misplaced her three-year-old baby whereas crossing the Rusizi 10 days in the past.

“One in every of my youngsters was mendacity on the raft in entrance of me whereas I held three others beside me. We had many different folks within the raft and once we reached the center of the river the raft broke into two and my baby was swept away,” she advised the RAYNAE at Rugombo’s soccer stadium.

“M23 are making our lives very troublesome. They need to cease this warfare. Even when I needed to return dwelling, I will be pressured to start out from scratch. They’ve stolen all the pieces we left behind,” she mentioned.

Tons of of white tents have been put up for shelter within the stadium because the paperwork of these in search of asylum is processed.

As many as 25 folks share a tent, with many others sleeping underneath the celebs. Meals is rationed to just one meal a day.

Additional south, the primary border put up between DR Congo and Burundi at Gatumba can also be busy.

It’s normally an hour’s drive between the close by Congolese metropolis of Uvira and Burundi’s fundamental metropolis of Bujumbura with the highway buzzing with merchants and autos.

Now it is just one-way site visitors with refugees flowing into Burundi – primarily ladies and youngsters.

Burundian safety officers, who spoke on situation of anonymity, advised the RAYNAE that males weren’t being allowed over the border and had been being advised to stay in Uvira to defend the town from the M23.

Burundi has greater than 10,000 troops deployed in DR Congo serving to the army there struggle the M23.

Lots of their troopers are actually based mostly in Uvira, which has a inhabitants of greater than 300,000.

It’s positioned on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and is now on excessive alert as M23 rebels are marching south from Bukavu and are reportedly 70km away.

Burundi has been a pure ally of DR Congo over years due to its enmity with Rwanda.

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have lengthy been hostile, with each accusing one another of making an attempt to overthrow their respective governments.

The nations share an analogous language and ethnic make-up – with Tutsi and Hutu communities usually vying for energy – and each have suffered horrible ethnic-based massacres.

However not like Rwanda, which is headed by a Tutsi president, the bulk Hutus are in energy in Burundi.

Burundi’s authorities fears that if the M23 cements its presence in South Kivu by taking Uvira it would strengthen a Burundian insurgent group known as Crimson Tabara.

Based mostly in South Kivu, it’s primarily made up of Tutsis – and has attacked Burundi prior to now.

“It’s horrible for Burundi. That is the primary time in additional than 20 years for the nation to obtain this massive variety of refugees,” Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, an official from the UN refugee company, advised the RAYNAE.

“We have to help this nation in receiving the refugees to enhance the situations of these which can be nonetheless making their technique to Burundi in order that there aren’t any clashes between the refugees and host communities.”

Eighty-seven-year-old Magega Mwarui can attest to the years of unrest within the area, usually triggered by ethnic rivalries.

“I’ve fled to Burundi so many occasions. We cross this river carrying the little belongings we’ve got left,” the Congolese girl, who has misplaced her sight, advised RAYNAE in Rugombo.

“Since I used to be younger, earlier than I turned blind… There’ve been occasions the place I virtually drowned whereas fleeing battle,” she mentioned.

Charlotte Odile, who’s now residing at a camp simply outdoors Rugombo arrange for many who have been formally registered as refugees, advised us she got here to Burundi along with her 4 youngsters after her husband was shot useless by M23 rebels in South-Kivu.

“I am hoping to discover a dwelling for my youngsters and peace,” she mentioned.

Further reporting by the RAYNAE’s Robert Kiptoo.