A Thousand Sisters_ My Journey Into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman - Lisa Shannon [109]
Mwajuma’s Daughter Immacule’s Little Girl
Mwajuma’s Son A Girl Child
Nyota’s Little Boy A Woman of Kaniola
Pauline’s Two Little Girls Some Children of Appoline
Rebecca Furaha’s Little Girl A Villager of Uvira
Esperance’s Son Mpondo M’Lusisi
Esperance’s Daughter Florida M’Murhebwa
Charlotte’s Two Boys M’Birego, wife of Christophe
Charlotte’s Two Girls Mr. Mutijima Mudekereza
Deodatte’s Little Girl M’Mastaki Mapendo,
Deodatte’s Little Boy citizen of Nalubuze
Benita’s Daughter Chance Chirhuza, citizen of Nalubuze
Theresia’s Two Daughters
Anastasia’s Son Olivier Mandiko Muhusi, citizen of Nalubuze
Anastasia’s Daughter
Esperance’s Son Espoir Chirungu, citizen of Nalubuze
Esperance’s Daughter
Charlotte’s Little Girl M’Rugamba Chirungu, citizen of Nalubuze
Ernestine’s Daughter
M’Saveri, citizen of Nalubuze Jospeh Kirhero Ntabala, citizen of Nalubuze
Mukengere Chirungu,
citizen of Nalubuze Nzungu Chigokere, citizen of Chihamba
Merci Muranga, citizen of Nalubuze
Bihama Kaborongo, Mbiribindi Mudekereza, citizen of Chihamba
citizen of Nalubuze
Maria M’Kahumba, Nine of Eric’s Neighbors Citizens of the President’s Village
citizen of Nalubuze
Ngomora Buhendwa, Asende’s 500 Neighbors in the Forest
citizen of Nalubuze
Olivier Bukengo Laurent, 702 Citizens of Makobola
citizen of Nalubuze 5.4 Million Unknown Children of Congo
Sylvie M’Chihebeyi, citizen of Nalubuze
Mapendo M’Gerenge, citizen of Nalubuze
KEY TERMS
Banyamulenge: A Tutsi-Congolese ethnic group (not a militia).
CNDP: National Congress for the Defense of People (in French, Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple), a Tutsi-Congolese militia lead by General Laurent Nkunda.
FARDC: The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the Congolese Army (in French, Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo).
FDD: Forces for the Defense of Democracy (in French, Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie), a Burundian militia.
IDP: Internally Displaced Person. Someone who has been forced to leave his or her home. Similar to the term “refugee,” but IDPs have not crossed any international borders.
Interahamwe or FDLR: Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (in French, Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda). A Rwandan Hutu militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Also known as the Interahamwe, “those who kill together.”
Kabila, Joseph: President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. Son of Laurent Kabila.
Kabila, Laurent: President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1997 until January 2001, when he was assassinated.
Kagame, Paul: President of Rwanda since 2000.
LRA: The Lord’s Resistance Army. Ugandan rebel group based in far north-eastern Congo.
Mai Mai: A Congolese militia, or “local defense force,” known for its members’ use of traditional African medicine. Translates to “Water Water” in Swahili.
Mobutu Sese Seko: Dictatorial president of Congo (then known as Zaire) from 1967 to 1997.
MONUC: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in French, Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies). United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo.
NGO: Nongovernmental Organization. Nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any government or political party. Many advance humanitarian causes.
Nkunda, Laurent: Tutsi Congolese general who was head of the CNDP until 2009, when he was captured and arrested by Rwandan troops.
Rasta: A militia comprised of former Interahamwe and Congolese.
RCD: Rally for Congolese Democracy. Rwanda-backed militia that sparked the 1998 “RCD War,” and later morphed into a political party.
UN: United Nations
UNHCR: United Nations High Commission on Refugees.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
HOW DO I BEGIN? Thousands of people have been the lifeblood of this story. My deep appreciation goes out to everyone who has played a part, large or small. These acknowledgments just start to scratch the surface.
Very special thanks to my parents. To my mom, Ann Shannon, an unsung hero for women in the Congo. Run for Congo