Charles Kwuelum Archive

Addressing hunger amid COVID-19

October 2, 2020 Charles Kwuelum

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected populations already ravaged by violence, floods, drought, wildfires, displacements and disease. The pandemic’s disruption on food systems paused production and distribution of food in many places, thereby leading to a hike in the cost of food and food insecurity globally. Inevitably, we are faced with the dual crises of hunger and COVID-19. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, an estimated 13.6 million people were likely to need emergency food assistance in early 2020. Unfortunately, COVID-19 will increase this projection. As governments imposed lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19, smallholder famers […]

A creative response in Nigeria’s northeast

May 8, 2020 Charles Kwuelum

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, Nigeria’s health infrastructure was inadequate and strained by the crisis of ongoing conflict with Boko Haram, which has forced people from their homes and caused many to lose their livelihoods. In 2014 Jummai Bello’s family of six escaped deadly crossfire between Boko Haram and Nigeria’s military in the town of Gwoza in Borno State. Lacking access to shelter, water and food for days as they fled, they remain unable to return to their home community. Currently, more than 2 million people are displaced in Nigeria’s northeast due to fighting between Boko Haram and the military. […]

In Nigeria, preventing radicalization through rebuilding lives

December 6, 2019 Charles Kwuelum

Several years ago, Emmanuel Sawa, then a high school student in the Plateau State of Nigeria, dropped out of school when violence caused his parents to lose their livelihood and become displaced along with many others in their community. Sawa, like many other young adults who either grew up in Plateau State or moved there to escape violence in other parts of the country, became addicted to drugs and was at risk of becoming radicalized. Years of brutal localized conflicts and intense violence have displaced more than 2 million people and destroyed livelihoods. The humanitarian crisis is primarily a result […]

The urgency before us: A call for collaborative effort towards DR Congo

August 16, 2019 Charles Kwuelum

Charline Kavugho shared the news that she and her two-year-old son, Jonathan, had been declared free of the Ebola virus, 17 days after her husband Gerome Kanyitondi died of an Ebola infection. Kanyitondi had been a pastor for the Community of Baptist Churches in Central Africa (CBCA). Kavugho was sharing her testimony with the Church of Christ of Congo’s Ministry of Refugees and Emergencies (ECC MERU), a partner organization of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). She had been willing to undergo an infection prevention and control process, at a time when many in the community are distrustful of health care personnel. […]

Rebuilding lives is foremost

May 17, 2019 Charles Kwuelum

In April Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), visited the United States. Controversy and protests around his victory in the long-delayed presidential election linger on, even as the transition and transfer of power has been described as the most peaceful since DR Congo’s independence. In Washington Tshisekedi met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss U.S.-DR Congo relations, including Tshisekedi’s “change agenda,” which includes attracting U.S. investments to the country. In light of the humanitarian crisis facing DR Congo, the meeting raises questions about the politicians’ priorities. As of December 2018, there were about […]

Reducing electoral violence

March 8, 2019 Charles Kwuelum

Countries invest a lot of resources in national elections but sometimes the process is accompanied by violence, leading to the destruction of lives, property and livelihoods and perpetuating cycles of trauma. Nigeria’s recently concluded presidential elections were regarded as relatively peaceful, but incidents of localized violence and electoral misconduct affected the credibility of the elections. More than one million people were unable to cast their votes due to violence around polling centers and millions more were disenfranchised for other reasons. After the results were announced, celebrations sparked violence in some parts of the country. Violence around elections in countries such […]

DR Congo’s uphill battle for peace

December 6, 2018 Charles Kwuelum

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a critical historical moment. That was the conclusion during a recent workshop held by Church of Christ in Congo (known by its French acronym, ECC), which focused on creating teams to prevent electoral violence. Long-expected parliamentary elections, a chance for the first peaceful transfer of power since independence, will be held on December 23. After the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila in 2001, Joseph Kabila became president and has remained in office beyond the country’s two term limit. After much local and international pressure, he has agreed to not run again. […]

Reinvigorating trust in the midst of displacement

November 16, 2018 Charles Kwuelum

As the dry season set in, Modibo Ado* migrated from his home in Bauchi State, Nigeria, leading his herds of cows and sheep to neighboring Plateau State. There the grass is still green, and water is available for his livestock. In Plateau State, farmers like Emmanuel Davou* tend their crops and wait to harvest them for food and income. For migratory herdsmen like Ado, growing his herds necessitate a search for vegetation and water. Encroachment into grazing routes for farmers like Davou often become a cause for conflict and violence. Such encounters break down relationships and trust among farming and […]

Counting down in faith

July 20, 2018 Charles Kwuelum

By Charles Kwuelum On June 30, the Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrated its 58th anniversary of independence. Instead of celebrating landmark democratic achievements as a nation, the country faces the unpleasant challenge of multi-layered conflicts including political and ethnic violence. Militarized responses from DR Congo’s armed forces and rebel groups continue to shake its stability. In December 2016, President Joseph Kabila’s second and last term ended according to Congolese constitution. Elections have been delayed and the president has since remained in office. This has led to countrywide protests from citizens to demand elections. The peaceful protests were met with […]

Nigeria: Rebuilding lives

May 4, 2018 Charles Kwuelum

By Charles Kwuelum Displaced from her home by Boko Haram attacks at Madagali, Nigeria and the Nigerian military’s response, Christy and her family fled to the area of Girei in Adamawa State. As the family of seven tried to escape the violence, Christy was abducted and forced into marriage with a Boko Haram member. She was lucky to escape in 2015. While sharing the story with a care giver and faced with trauma and almost in tears, she said, “I was 24 in 2014 when it happened, but thank God that I am able to partake in an opportunity for […]