Eight Muslim preachers from Tanzania have been kidnapped in
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an area where several armed groups
operate and kidnappings are frequent, authorities said Wednesday. The preachers were taken
over the weekend from the Kiseguro area, in the restive province of North Kivu,
province Governor Julien Paluku told AFP. "We have referred
the case to our foreign affairs mission so that it can alert its Tanzanian
counterparts," he added.
Kidnappings for ransom,
often with physical violence against the hostages, are frequent in the
territory around Kiseguro.
AFP report continues:
Several armed groups,
including the ethnic Hutu militia Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda (FDLR), operate in the east of DR Congo, which is a Christian-majority
country.
"It appears the
(victims) are Muslims who were travelling for the purpose of preaching when
they met some unidentified bandits who took them hostage," said imam
Masudi Kadogo, who represents the Muslim community in North Kivu.
Just a few months ago a
Muslim leader in the area was taken hostage and later released in exchange for
a ransom, he added.
It is not clear who
captured the preachers, but authorities speculated that FDLR or local youths
could be behind the kidnapping.
The FDLR has been active
in Democratic Republic of Congo -- which borders both Rwanda and Burundi --
since crossing over from Rwanda after the 1994 genocide of mainly Tutsi people
there.
Opposed to Rwandan
President Paul Kagame s Tutsi-dominated government, they are accused of
carrying out brutal attacks on civilians in eastern DR Congo and of smuggling
gold.
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