FCO minister hit by Congolese women's protest

A woman holds up a sign at the protest

Thursday, 20, Nov 2008 03:00

Foreign Office minister Lord Mark Malloch-Brown faced an unexpected protest by female victims of the violence in Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.

Around 50 women greeted the senior diplomat as he arrived at Mugunga 1 camp on the outskirts of provincial capital Goma.

At least a quarter of a million people have fled the one-million-strong city amid fighting between rebel forces led by General Laurent Nkunda and government troops.

Britain is among the countries pressing Gen Nkunda and Congolese president Joseph Kabila to progress peace talks but the women urged Lord Malloch-Brown to do more to end the fighting.

The women wore placards around their neck calling for peace and the protection of women in the wake of the conflict.

Lord Malloch-Brown talked with them in French. He was told by the delegation's leader: "Enough is enough is enough. We need peace and nothing apart from peace. Women want to go home to cultivate their fields."

Woman have become vulnerable to rape and attacks as the conflict continues to destabilise the region.

Life in the camps, without privacy and with the responsibility of looking after children, is especially tough for Congolese women.

Kamundu Kabiho, 72, said: "We need peace so we can go back to our homes and we plead for the help of the international community."

The protest was organised by charity ActionAid.