Women demonstrate for a second day

Some 500 Banyamulenge women demonstrated for a second day in Uvira, South Kivu, on Thursday, demanding an end to “abuses” by the Mayi-Mayi militia and governing Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma). Local NGO sources told IRIN that the women surrounded the office of the local RCD administrator, demanding that he address them, but he failed to show up. They then marched to a building where RCD security chief Bizima Karaha was due to hold a meeting, and stopped him from entering. Karaha agreed to talk to them about their concerns, the sources said. The women say they want peace and an “end to tribalism”. The conflict, which they say is targeting the Banyamulenge, is taking away their husbands and sons, “leaving them as widows bringing up orphans”. Local sources told IRIN that most RCD officials have left their Goma headquarters to visit South Kivu in a bid to try and obtain popular support. The RCD has been accused of being removed from the people is trying to redress the situation, the sources said. “However, it seems it is too late now,” they added.