Bukavu Has Fallen

This remains an unconfirmed statement, but our sources within the country indicate that Bukavu has indeed fallen. Prior to this, there was mass looting, including by Congolese soldiers who abandoned their posts. More escape routes have been blocked and another airport seized. Many residents have submitted to the foreign regime, hoping for peace. One statement suggested, “if we surrender, the bombing and gunfight will cease.” While this might hold some validity, killings, murders, and rapes of women and children have significantly increased. It’s a sad but true fact that violent rapes skyrocket during conflicts. We have seen this firsthand, and it has been observed repeatedly throughout history, especially since the region has been in conflict from the early 1900s when Belgium colonized Central Africa and reshaped its heritage—an enormous mistake, in my opinion.

The UN reported that before Bukavu fell, violent rapes had risen by 30%. As many people flee from Goma and other cities on the path to Bukavu, this situation could become a catastrophic disaster, likely increasing those numbers significantly. Bukavu is the second-largest city in South Kivu, originally built to accommodate 300,000 people. However, over the years, the population reached 1.8 million—severely overpopulated. With over 500,000 people displaced since January, all searching for safety in numbers, Bukavu seemed like the best choice.  Unfortunately, this gives space for great disaster and a humanitarian nightmare.

Our Sources

A friend of ours on Idjwi Island in Lake Kivu informed me that Bukavu is in “great danger.” Over 40,000 refugees have fled to the island, as it currently remains outside the scope of control, despite being near Bukavu. He further mentioned that the M23 Rebels have full control over Bukavu but he was currently safe.

We communicate with several of our girls that have gone through our program through a messenger app. We reached out to all of them but initially received no responses. Sources in the country informed us that communications might have been cut off. Hours later, one of the girls responded to our message of concern, asking us to pray for peace and expressing fear amid the chaos. A few more hours passed before another girl replied to my message asking, “Are you safe?” She could only send an emoji with tears streaming down the face and the words, “Dad, please pray for us!”

The Confusion

As I was writing the above, one of our oldest and closest friends replied to a message I sent checking on him.  His message read, “Our government has failed us.” A few minutes later, he was able to call via WhatsApp. He told me he has been hiding in his family’s house for two days. He is extremely upset with his government and wants to publish a statement about their irresponsibility in Bukavu and the East side of the country. Fortunately, they have a one-month supply of food and water, but most cannot leave their house to buy any and only have a limited supply. Even if they could leave, he told me the banks closed their doors over two weeks ago, no one can get money to buy things. So, what happens when you need food and water to survive without money? “Looting, killing, and stealing” is what people are resorting to. “People are dying, Randall.” Is what he said

“I don’t feel safe.” He said

As I was talking to him, I could hear gunshots in the background. He said, “Can you hear that, Randall? I don’t feel safe.” He kept repeating, “Our government failed, our government abandoned us here on the east side. They have lost control of the Congolese army and abandoned us, hiding behind war accusations.” He continued, sharing that the situation is confusing there. He told me, “Do not believe the news (media). Yes, the M23 and Rwanda are here, yes, they are playing the game and doing bad things, but they are not the primary reason for what is happening. It’s because our government has failed us, and these people have moved in to take advantage of the situation. In fact, our Congolese army armed young boys with rifles, they armed those who are inexperienced and untrained and then abandoned this region leaving them in charge. It is these boys who are doing most of the killings. They call themselves the “Wasalindo,” I’m not sure of the spelling.

“Yes, M23 is killing too, but not to the degree of these boys who are fighting for personal gain. This is why it is confusing.” He continued, “The news is hiding behind the M23 because they trust them and feel safer around them, but the media is lying.”

He sent me photos and videos of the boy soldiers patrolling the streets. They don’t even know how to use the weapons they carry. In one video, a boy mishandles an RPG and points it at another boy’s face before quickly removing the projectile. They are seen firing rounds into the air, causing terror among residents. It was boy gangs like these that were harassing him the day before Bukavu fell. They were impersonating the law and questioning him for suspicious activity as he showed them his passport.

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“It will be a very long night,” he said. It was noon here in the States and 6:30 PM there. He shared with me that he created a WhatsApp alert system with many locals in Bukavu, a whistle-blowing alert of sorts. We ended our conversation with him saying, “I love my country, I love these people, and though Rwanda, M23, and Uganda are in the wrong, the truth is, our government created this mess with their incompetent leadership. I would be happy if our government was overthrown.”

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Rachelle and I receive alerts from the State Department due to our involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today’s alert said a demonstration is planned in Kinshasa tomorrow, February 16th, 2025. They warn all remaining US citizens to stay indoors due to expected violence. My guess is that many Congolese people believe and share the same opinion as our friend, and they are not happy.

The Sharks

This morning, Uganda’s chief of Ugandan defense forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, stated in a post on X on Saturday, that Uganda would attack the town of Bunia in neighboring eastern Congo unless "all forces" there surrender their arms within 24 hours.  "My people, the Bahima, are being attacked. That's a very dangerous situation for those attacking my people. No one on this earth can kill my people and think he will not suffer for it!" He added, "Bunia will soon be in UPDF hands."

That statement mirrors the claim made by Rwanda about their presence of 4,000 Rwandan troops in the DRC, citing the protection of their people who are being mistreated there. Additionally, the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have intervened, exploiting the situation. Reports indicate that they have tied people up in churches and killed them in the North and South Kivus.

This situation highlights the failure and corruption of the government, which does not care for its people. Others are circling the bloody body like sharks in the water, ready to take their piece. They seek their own gain, hiding behind words like "we're just defending our people," yet they intrude into another country where they don’t belong. I can’t say I would be very happy if anyone tried that here, I mean seriously, try pulling that here in the United States.

Just My Thoughts

I remember when I was in my twenties, hearing about a civil war taking place in this far away African country called Rwanda. It was 1994, and I was intrigued by the news, but I didn't give it much thought. My opinion back then, 30 years ago, was, “Screw Africa; we have enough issues here in the United States to deal with. Let them deal with their own issues.”  Three months later we were all informed that over 800,000 innocent people lost their lives in that mess.  They used the word genocide to share what took place. I now realize how ignorant that statement of mine was about letting them deal with their own problems. I never had the desire to go to Africa, not one shred of interest but in 2015, that changed, something happened, and my heart changed. When my wife went to Rwanda and Congo, we experienced firsthand what was happening there, we couldn’t help but develop a passion to want to help. That, my friends, is the “Love of God” pouring in us, through us, and out of us for those around us. 

I consider myself a strong, passionate American patriot. I am proud of my country and would defend her fiercely, but as bad as many people think we have it here in the United States, makes me want to scream, “you haven’t seen anything, my friend.”  Try living in Bukavu; tell those hiding for their lives and struggling for the bare necessities just to make it another day, then come back and tell me we have it bad here. We spent many years walking through the Rwanda Genocide Memorial, educating people who traveled with us on missions to Congo. It’s disgusting what the world, including myself, stood by and watched with indifference, labeling it a civil war. We have done this too many times throughout history with different countries. If you pause for just one minute, you will see the same thing happening again right in front of our faces. Innocent people are dying over greed, wealth, money and maybe a little revenge.  It’s evil and demonic.

I don’t know what we can do other than pray and share the truth, hoping the right person can make the right decision to save lives. After all, we are all human, aren’t we? We all bleed the same, don’t we? Ignoring this and believing it will just go away or stay contained is foolishness. If you were in need of help like these people are, wouldn’t you want someone to come and help you? Or should we stand by, watch, and wait for it to go away so we can move on with our agendas in our private little bubbles? 

Am I upset, yes.  My wife and I are angry and feel helpless. As much as this is our home here in the United States, those are our people as well. We’ve spent ten years building relationships in both Rwanda and DR Congo, becoming family with them. We own property there, travel there annually, and have invested much time and money there. This situation disgusts us and needs to be shared with others. Please join us in prayer, please.  We are also in need of funds.  Yes, our operations in DRC Congo have been suspended but you can bet that as soon as we are able to go back the need there will be a significantly greater than it has in a long, long time and we need to prepare.