Clashes Rage and Ebola Cases Top 9,000 in Eastern DR Congo, Putting Chinese Residents at Risk

Security conditions in eastern DR Congo are deteriorating sharply: an Ebola outbreak is spreading across several provinces, with confirmed cases in the current outbreak now topping 9,000, while armed clashes rage on in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, with militia attacks on villages and displacement sites, gunfire against passing trucks and a mass prison break reported in quick succession. According to UN-backed Radio Okapi, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and local media, a series of attacks and firefights in Ituri's Djugu territory alone has killed dozens since October 9.

On the epidemic, the Congolese health ministry says that as of October 12 the current outbreak had produced 9,144 confirmed cases and 4,410 deaths across seven provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele, Tshopo and Sud-Ubangi. Figures released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on October 13 match that total and confirm it is the cumulative count for the current outbreak, declared in May — not a historical tally. The virus has reached 65 health zones in seven provinces, with Ituri hit hardest at 6,734 confirmed cases and 3,177 deaths; 899 patients remain in isolation and 2,418 have recovered. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern in May; no approved vaccine exists for this strain. Kenya confirmed its first imported case from DR Congo in early October and a second, linked case on October 14, heightening regional concern about cross-border spread.

Most of the recent incidents occurred in Djugu territory, Ituri province. On October 9, fighters of the CODECO militia clashed around Maze in Djugu; Radio Okapi, citing the local Ente cultural association, put the death toll at 11. On October 11–12, CODECO attacked the Rhoo displacement site and nearby villages in Bahema Nord, killing at least five civilians, according to several local outlets. On October 11, CODECO also clashed fiercely with the CRP militia around Lenga and Lokpa in Djugu; Radio Okapi, citing security sources, put the death toll from that fighting at at least 45, most of them fighters from the two groups.

On the evening of October 13, gunmen attacked trucks on National Road 27 in Djugu. Radio Okapi reported that CODECO fighters opened fire on the Pitsu–Niapala stretch, killing three drivers — one Somali, one Kenyan and one Congolese. Traffic was halted and more than 200 vehicles stranded before the road reopened on October 14 under escort by the Congolese army and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.

Elsewhere in Ituri, fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked the village of Longela in Mambasa territory on the night of October 7, killing two civilians and burning a house; local civil-society groups say it was the fifth ADF incursion in the area since early October. In the Kivus, Radio Okapi reported that over the weekend of October 11–12 the Wazalendo militia and M23 fought around Kasake and Shovu in Masisi territory, North Kivu, with further clashes at Kiseguro in Rutshuru on October 13; in Kaziba, Walungu territory, South Kivu, three days of fighting from October 11 killed at least four people and emptied several villages, according to local broadcaster Radio Maendeleo. Radio Okapi and several local outlets also reported that on the night of October 9–10, twelve inmates sawed through bars and escaped from Kangbayi central prison in Beni, North Kivu, among them four Ugandans; one escapee was recaptured by residents and handed to police. The prison was built for 250 inmates but holds more than 2,200.

Chinese residents in DR Congo are directly exposed to the crisis. The country's mineral wealth draws large numbers of Chinese mining companies and residents, particularly to Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces. CCTV, Xinhua and other Chinese media reported that on October 4 a Chinese-run camp near Kolwezi in Haut-Katanga was robbed by armed men, leaving one Chinese employee injured and property stolen. Based on the incidents reported above, Chinese residents in the country should pay particular attention to the following:

First, avoid the conflict hotspots. The recent attacks, fighting and prison break have all clustered in Djugu and Mambasa in Ituri, Beni, Masisi and Rutshuru in North Kivu, and Walungu in South Kivu. Chinese residents and company staff still in those areas should relocate to relatively safer areas as soon as possible and avoid non-essential travel there.

Second, watch the road risk. On the evening of October 13, militia gunfire on the Djugu stretch of National Road 27 (the Pitsu–Niapala section) killed three truck drivers, halted traffic and stranded more than 200 vehicles. Check road security before travelling by land, and avoid night driving and travelling alone where possible.

Third, mining camps should tighten security. The armed robbery near Kolwezi on October 4 injured a Chinese employee; Chinese institutions and staff in the mining provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba should strengthen camp security and cut non-essential outings and movement.

Fourth, take epidemic precautions. The Ebola outbreak has reached 65 health zones in seven provinces, with Ituri accounting for more than 70 percent of confirmed cases, no approved vaccine exists for the Bundibugyo strain, and Kenya has already recorded imported cases from DR Congo. Follow epidemic developments closely, cut unnecessary outings and cross-regional travel, and in particular avoid areas where the epidemic and the fighting overlap.

Related: China's Foreign Ministry Vows Ebola Aid to DR Congo Three Times: Medical Teams Reach Kinshasa as Embassy Orders Gold Miners to Register and Eastern Citizens to Leave

Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：刚果（金）伊图里省首府布尼亚航拍。摄影：HokieRNB，公共领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons

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