GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo (RNS) — Pastor Allan Ngwaba has been offering daily counseling sessions, both in churches and homes, to people affected by the violent conflict in the Congo.
The professional counselor and pastor at Rivers Pentecostal Church in Goma said many civilians he has met with are experiencing severe post-traumatic stress disorder since the violence and killings in the country escalated earlier this year. Their suffering, he said, is often a result of losing multiple loved ones, exposure to horrific images, witnessing human cruelty, the constant threat of death and a lack of basic necessities such as food and shelter.
“You need to listen to them during counseling sessions as they express their anger and cry uncontrollably about what has happened to them,” Ngwaba said. “Once they have been able to express themselves, you can begin discussing how to accept their situation, understand why the conflict occurred and explore the best ways to move forward and overcome their circumstances.”
The enduring conflict in Eastern Congo, which has devastated the region for decades, is rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the fierce competition for control over the nation’s mineral resources. The minerals are used for manufacturing batteries that power electric vehi …