African leaders Act to Defuse Conflict in Congo

Local Mai-Mai militias ambushed rebel soldiers with an array of assault rifles while the rest of the men fought at close range. These Mia-Mia militias, aligned with the Congolese government, saw themselves as the focal protectors of their land. This ambush lasted around five hours in which 500 people had to flee Ngungu. Peacekeepers eventually sparked truce, however, not before one person was killed and many others wounded. The New York Times states the Southern African Development Community declared an “immediate cease-fire and the opening of safe corridors for aid to get through.” Tomaz Salomao, the Southern African Development Community’s executive secretary stated at a midnight news conference, “We are aware we are facing a tragedy and time is not on our side.” He also made it clear that not only were military advisers sent immediately, but also peacekeeping troops if needed. It was issued after the meeting that the Mai-Mai militia’s goal was to help the Congolese Army. Colonel Dietrich was quoted in the New York Times stating “the Congolese Army considered this minor fighting.” United Nations officials were alarmed by this statement because they believed it illustrated the complexity of the conflict from all sides. Due to the fighting taking place, some 250,000 people were driven from their homes and urgently needed some assistance. Presidents from seven African nations had a meeting on Friday urging for open corridors for aid workers and an end to the constant fighting. A majority of the people whom were forced to flee their homes had now become sick and hungry. The aid workers are having trouble containing cholera outbreaks in camps around Goma. United Nations officials are stating that Mai-Mai militia fighters are getting even more aggressive and frustrated in comparison to the Congolese troops who have now calmed down.
I think that although many of the presidents from seven other African nations are trying to step in and help thwart the violence, I still don’t believe they are doing enough. This violence by the Mai-Mai militias is single handedly causing a wider spread of disease and famine in a place where it is already an undeniable problem. I believe that the Mai-Mai militias are going to continue to cause more and more damage to people’s lives and the nation if someone doesn’t put a stop to them. It is evident that they are growing restless and frustrated from the actions taken by the Southern African Development Community. I believe that they will not put an end to the countless acts of violence until they are removed entirely from Congo. The Congo doesn’t need to have any more erratic acts of violence then they already have from all the civil wars. I believe that in order for the Congo to develop as an efficient nation they must collaborate and find new ways to accomplish better feats. Thousands of people are being exiled from their homes due to pointless fighting that the government is in correspondence with. The Southern African Development Community should institute a plan to eradicate the Mai-Mai militia if Congolese citizens will have a hope of living in peace.