Your stories

Innocent Empi (pictured right)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been gripped for five years by civil war between resident Rwandan Hutus and Congolese Tutsis, who are suspected of being controlled from Rwanda.

Most of Manchester’s 1,000 Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers are expected to take part in the march from All Saints' Park on Oxford Road to the Peace Garden at the Town Hall at 11am on Saturday 8th November 2008.

The protestors will also call for the banishment of EU and US companies who are draining DR Congo’s natural resources in exchange for arms.

Pressure

"DR Congo is a mineral rich country with diamonds and cotton. There are companies from Europe and the US, who are providing arms to the generals in return for these resources and the Congolese people are getting nothing from these tax-free deals.

"We believe the EU and the US have put pressure on the UN not to pursue these companies. We need that pressure now," he added.

Innocent, aged 38, of Lower Broughton, Salford, arrived in Britain four years ago after being persecuted and tortured by the Congolese government. His wife and six children, three of whom were adopted after his brother was killed in the war, are hoping to join him after he secured refugee status here.

"We are peaceful people. We don’t want to stay in the UK, we want to return to DR Congo and help make it into the good country it should be, but we need the support of the international community." he added.