A Double Whammy of Volcanic Tremors and Militant Threats in DR Congo

He adds, “The serious danger is that there could be an explosion in the lake, where there is gas, that would endanger everything in an area of ​​20 kilometers. That is why we are waiting to receive more information and to be able to make a decision.”

Fr. Masumbuko shares with ACN that he had left Goma on Friday due to a family emergency, before the volcano began to spit out lava. Now he was unable to return to the Seminary.

The Priest however tells the Pontifical charity organization that he is “in permanent contact with the vice-rector to decide what to do.”

In an interview with ACI Africa on Monday, May 24, Nelson Mantama, the officer in charge of communications at the Catholic Youth Centre of Goma Diocese said that people in the region were still in panic owing to earth tremors.

“Today, the situation is not at all disturbing, but we are noticing some concern and a little bit of alert, of panic following tremors that shook the environment. And as a result, the population seemed to be getting scared again,” Mr. Mantama told ACI Africa.

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The Communications official said that the people were, however, following the directives of the government and the OVG (Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma), the body that monitors volcanoes in the Central African nation.

He told ACI Africa that though there was no active eruption on the surface, active cracks could still be seen and that the cracks were sending panic among the people.

In the May 27 report, the leadership of ACN explains the danger that surrounds Goma, apart from the volcanic eruption that is said to have killed over 30 people and displaced thousands.

“The population in North-Kivu where Goma is located has increased dramatically in recent years due to refugees from the civil war and the situation of violence and insecurity caused by armed groups active in the areas,” ACN reports.

Now, the first dilemma is whether to evacuate or not, according to Fr. Masumbuko.

He explains the dilemma, “Even if we evacuate, the next question is where to go and especially how to get there, because security outside of Goma is very fragile. There are armed groups that take advantage of this situation to attack and assault people.”

“The situation is chaotic,” the Priest tells ACN, adding that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), the UN peacekeeping force in DRC, has already left the country.

There are no reliable sources of information on what to do and people in the country are getting contradictory messages from social media platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp, he says.

“It is really a drama. I ask you to support us with your prayers,” the Priest tells the charity organization that has supported the formation of the 29 seminarians in the Seminary.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.