Kisangani “politically volatile”

Humanitarian sources say the political situation in Kisangani is very volatile, although overall security in Province Orientale has improved slightly. Four parties are now represented in the province - the RCD-Kisangani, RCD-Goma, the Mouvement de liberation congolais (MLC) of Jean-Pierre Bemba and the newly-formed Mouvement pour la securite, la paix et le developpement (MSPD) of Willy Mishiki, erstwhile aide to Ernest Wamba dia Wamba of RCD-Kisangani. According to the local population, Wamba is gaining popularity for two main reasons: “his anti-Tutsi campaign and his support for the Lusaka peace process”. The province however is becoming increasingly isolated. River traffic from Kinshasa has stopped, it is impossible to drive from Goma and supplies brought in by plane from Uganda are too costly for most people, many of whom are now only taking one meal a day. The nutritional quality of their food has reduced drastically.