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Humanitarian Mine Action

Kabumba village - the mine situation in Congo

© Folkekirkens Nødhjælp

Demining in progress in DR Congo. Photo:DCA

Kabumba is a small, typical and remote village of Katanga province in eastern Congo. Kabumba is situated alongside the mighty Congo River and was once known as a prosper village, famous for its fishing. Numerous traders came from surrounding areas in order to buy fish that they would sell in nearby villages and territories. The population progressively grew and agricultural activities developed all around the village which made Kabumba a central area for trade. About 300 people lived in Kabumba prior to the war, and it is estimated that several thousand people indirectly benefited from the fish and agricultural trade of the village.

Five years of war

The five-year conflict (1998-2003) that pitted Congolese government forces (supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe), against various rebel forces (backed by Uganda and Rwanda), did however put an abrupt end to the socio-economic development of Kabumba.

During the war the Zimbabwean forces established themselves in Kabumba village in their fight against the Rwandan army that occupied nearby Kabalo town (17 km north of kabumba). As the Zimbabwean soldiers ordered the population to desert the area, the once prosper village of Kabumba became little more than a military camp and its population was forced to join the precarious fate of millions of refugees. The whole area subsequently became a frontline and the theatre of fierce fighting. All parties were heavily armed and strategically buried mines on the roads, bridges and in the numerous villages of the area. In the case of Kabumba the Zimbawean forces defended themselves with a defensive minefield all around the village.

The war has ended but the mines remain

This hidden and deadly legacy now prevents the displaced population from returning home even though the war has ended and the soldiers have left. In addition, the agricultural land around the village is now polluted with mines which seriously hamper any prospect of economic growth for the returnees. The access to the forest, the river and two surrounding villages is also blocked by mines.

In order to address this situation DanChurchAid began demining operations in Kabumba in July 2006. Since the commencement of the clearance operations in Kabumba, high numbers of mines and so called booby traps have been located in very complicated patterns and dangerous positions. Following the beginning of the clearance operations the population is progressively returning to Kabumba and the number of inhabitants in the village is currently of 130. Agricultural activities are gradually increasing as a result of the regular handover of safe areas. The demining operations are ongoing but the socio-economic activities of the village will however only be fully restored once the area has been completely cleared.