Men risk drowning to flee conscription by rebels

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

The 25-year-old clung on to a black bin bag with some possessions as he used the sturdy currents to navigate his manner throughout the Rusizi river, which varieties 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 jap 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 the forest and shifting alongside the bushes as an alternative of the principle street,” he advised the BBC after climbing up the financial institution on the Burundian facet and wiping the water from his face.

“It’s because M23 fighters are in all places 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 almost 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 completely 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 attempting to catch his breath as he emerged from the Rusizi: “Within the river you simply must take coronary heart and say if I die or survive so be it. God willed I crossed safely.”

Because the BBC group 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 facet.

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

The risks these fleeing face are actual.

Over the past two weeks, at the least 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 youngster 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 after we reached the center of the river the raft broke into two and my youngster was swept away,” she advised the BBC at Rugombo’s soccer stadium.

“M23 are making our lives very troublesome. They have to cease this battle. Even when I wished to return dwelling, I will be compelled to start out from scratch. They’ve stolen every little thing we left behind,” she mentioned.

A whole lot of white tents have been put up for shelter within the stadium because the paperwork of these searching for asylum is processed.

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

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

It’s normally an hour’s drive between the close by Congolese metropolis of Uvira and Burundi’s primary metropolis of Bujumbura with the street buzzing with merchants and automobiles.

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

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

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

A lot of their troopers are actually primarily based in Uvira, which has a inhabitants of greater than 300,000.

It’s situated 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 attempting to overthrow their respective governments.

The nations share an analogous language and ethnic make-up – with Tutsi and Hutu communities typically 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 can strengthen a Burundian insurgent group known as Pink Tabara.

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

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

“We have to assist this nation in receiving the refugees to enhance the circumstances of these which are nonetheless making their method to Burundi in order that there are not any clashes between the refugees and host communities.”

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

“I’ve fled to Burundi so many occasions. We cross this river carrying the little belongings now we have left,” the Congolese lady, who has misplaced her sight, advised BBC 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 individuals who have been formally registered as refugees, advised us she got here to Burundi along with her 4 youngsters after her husband was shot lifeless by M23 rebels in South-Kivu.

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

Further reporting by the BBC’s Robert Kiptoo.