Congolese people in Winnipeg urge Canada to help as decades-long conflict in former home escalates

About 200 people marched to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly from the Human Rights Museum on Saturday in a demonstration aimed at spurring action from the Canadian government.

Congolese Winnipeggers took to the streets this weekend, calling on the Canadian government to act as thousands continue to be displaced or killed in the latest flareup of a decades-long war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

About 200 people marched from the Human Rights Museum to the Manitoba Legislative Building on Saturday, aiming to raise awareness about the conflict between the DRC army and the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group.

Fighting in the country’s eastern region has led to millions of deaths since the war began in the late ’90s. Almost seven million Congolese have fled their homes because of it, according to the United Nations.

“We came, most of us, as refugees, so we still have those bad memories about the war. When we hear about these things going on again after decades, it brings back those memories,” said Emmanuel Kambale, a spokesperson with the Congolese Community of Manitoba.

“Lot of people have been killed, innocent civilians have been killed. And we’re here to say no to that.”

Tensions between the DRC and neighbouring Rwanda — which has been accused of supporting the rebels — are at a boiling point, triggering concerns about an all-out conflict between the two countries.

Earlier this week, DRC Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde resigned shortly after France called on Rwanda to stop backing M23.

Rwanda rejects the accusations, which are backed by the U.S., the DRC and UN experts

.

Demonstrators were calling for the Canadian government to help resolve the conflict through diplomacy. (Amine Ellatify/Radio-Canada)

‘Canada can do something’

Demonstrators were calling for the Canadian government to step up and try to solve the issue through diplomacy.

“If it’s possible for Ukraine [to get help], it should also be possible to help Congo,” said Paul Kambaja, a teacher who has lived in Winnipeg for more than 20 years.

People fleeing the fighting between government forces and M23 rebels make their way towards Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Nov. 15, 2022. Almost seven million people have fled their homes because of the conflict, according to the UN. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Kambaja said there are multiple Canadian mining companies doing business in the DRC, and he wonders why the Canadian government isn’t doing something to help.

“We want Manitoba to know that every time they use their phones, they’re using their TVs or any electronic device, those minerals …are coming from Congo, and the people of Congo are dying,” he said.

“We decided to raise awareness in Canada because we believe Canada can do something for Congolese people.”

Government forces at a checkpoint north of Goma on Nov. 25, 2022. Tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are at a boiling point, triggering concerns about an all-out conflict between the two African countries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

‘You don’t know who is alive, who is dead’

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement Saturday it’s profoundly worried about the increase in hostilities, adding that Canada financially supports UN peacekeeping missions in the country.

The government said it’s calling on Rwanda to stop supporting M23, the DRC to stop its support of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda — a Hutu-led rebel group operating from the DRC — and other non-state armed groups to withdraw the region.

Kambale says many in the community still have links to the DRC, and that they’re worried about their families. (Amine Ellatify/Radio-Canada)

Kambaja said he’s been at events denouncing the war for many years. He said some of the children born to Congolese parents in Canada since the conflict began are now old enough to help organize the protests.

Kambale said many in the community still have links to their old country, and that they’re worried about their families.

“You don’t know who is alive, who is dead,” he said. “It’s even tough to get in touch with them. And that’s the panic people are living in right now here in Winnipeg.”

Many of the demonstrators fled the war to make a new life in Canada. (Amine Ellatify/Radio-Canada)