The troops, after an outrageous battle, came back to the barracks; we, on behalf of MONUSCO, went to evacuate the incapacitated soldiers for providing better treatment in level 2 hospital.
The fighting was in two groups, the regular armed force of DR Congo (FARDC) and The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) a Ugandan based rebel group active in mineral-rich eastern border area of DR Congo. The ADF had been formed in the year of 1996 comprised a group of fundamental Muslim secessionist in the Ruwenzori mountains area of western Uganda. This group was blamed to create a great havoc by blasting bombs at restaurants and markets in Kampala city in 1998. The Ugandan army attacked them several times and could make them weaker. To survive and protect themselves the rebel group progressed towards the frontier of DR Congo in 2004 and was hindering the security situation in the area. At present, they are accused of making a liaison with Somalia based rebel groups Al Shebab.
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| An FARDC soldier, at Mambasa, DRC |
After a seven-day-long fight, FARDC won the battle and lost their 15 soldiers, the opposite side the ADF also lost more elements. The negative force retreated from the battle field leaving behind some of the dead bodies of their poor fellow troops. The fighting ground was the deep forest in between north-eastern Congo and Ugandan border.
After the completion of mind-numbing conflict, the injured soldiers were gathered in the barracks of FARDC Battalion HQ at Luna. We BANBAT-1/9 had been ordered to go there from Bunia to bring the seriously injured soldiers and to admit them to the level 2 hospital of MONUSCO at Bunia. When we reached the place we have found the soldiers scattered, few of them look like abnormal, some were traumatized; they cast an eccentric and weird look to us. Some ran to us with fury and demanded food and cigarettes saying that they were very hungry. They passed a whole week in the forest almost without food, without sleeping. We faced a crucial situation. We unfortunately carried no food, no cigar on that day. One soldier aimed his SMG at me threatening to provide them food. Their arms were fully loaded, the soldiers were moving here and there with AK 47, rocket lancers and grenades etc. They were not ready and patient enough to listen to us. Language was also a barrier. Most of them were able to speak neither French nor English. However, I later found out a sergeant who could speak French. I clarified our intentions of coming to him. He helped us to meet the Battalion Commander. The latter had already been informed about us by FARDC Ops Zone Commander Col Fall and was waiting to receive our assistance. But we had only two ambulances those were not sufficient to carry all the seriously wounded soldiers. The other soldiers again became furious because of our insufficient aid. We as per doctor’s guidance selected few of the wounded who were extremely hurt. It was really tough to convince them, the injured combatants whom we could not carry with us became disheartened. We requested the commander to send them to the local hospitals and permit us to leave the place immediately otherwise the wounded with us would suffer a lot by reason of belated treatment.
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| An FARDC soldier, at Mambasa, DRC |
It was a great relief to come out of the place safely; we all were in horrific situation. For the first time I experienced how the battle influences the fighters’ psychology. Moreover, they were deprived of sufficient logistics and medical support. I saw the shadow of deaths in some soldiers’ eyes. I felt so helpless. I quitted the place leaving for them nothing but my sympathy and good-wishes.
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