Taxi? This is it in the Congo

They call me a clinger. But I bet you would be a clinger too here in the Congo. When I get on a moto I wrap my arms around the driver's waist and intertwine my fingers. I usually have my camera bag behind the driver's back and my backpack on my back. Trying to stay on the seat takes talent and I am getting it down. This is the taxi equivalent in the Congo at least in Goma,Congo.

We begin each trip dodging volcanic rocks, mud holes,old holes,garbage,branches not to mention the thousands of motorcycles also dodging the same garbage along their way. As the passenger I am rarely actually touch the seat until we come to a stop.

We pass by hundreds of SUV's with AID logos plastered on the sides. It makes me think that the only traffic jam is caused by these giant AID vehicles from Medicines sin Fronteirs,Save-the-Children, USAID, oh my gosh there are so many AID groups here, it is hard not to mix up all the acronyms. Really if we counted you would think that everyone in this country would be well fed and housed in sufficient homes. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Goma CONGO Guns Kill

When is it enough? "I have no father" 16 year-old Beda weeps after her father died from a gunshot wound in the kidney minutes earlier. He was hit by a stray bullet Sunday November 9 as he walked down the street in Goma, Congo in Eastern Africa.

Congolese Army and Nkunda's army continue to have squirmishes while negotiations and lack of aid are at a stalemate.

Getting to the CDNP Controlled Area

First of all the land in the Congo is beautiful. Getting to this beautiful land is across miles and miles of unpaved road. It is full of holes, giant volcanic rocks and what else but thick mud. Not too many things scare me but driving up those one way mountain roads inches from a thousand foot drop practically scared the pants off of me. The driver seemed to be in an uncanny hurry which I would only understand when we tried to cross the front line coming back.

We ended up in the CDNP controlled territory. This is area that is completely controlled by Laurent Nkunda's troops.
I'm always surprised at these type of troops when I see they have the latest model uniform and are well equipped in guns and numbers.
This introduction has urged me to seek out Nkunda himself. Maybe tomorrow? His soldiers, the Congolese soldiers seems anyone with a uniform has orders to not allow their picture to be taken. Honestly I am grateful to go out with aid groups but at the same time they are scared that I am going to take a picture and get them in trouble.
It's a difficult balance. I think they are more sacred than need be but they are scared. When we came back towards Goma the CDNP army had increased dramatically and the Congolese army had also grown since the morning. The front line had now been blockaded with a barrier of logs. We in the vehicle anticipated the options as the Congolose young soldier approached our car. What we didn't expect was his question. He looked at all 4 of us and asked, "Do you have the Bishop in your car". We were allowed back into the Goma with the correct answer.