GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Shoppers enter Tanganyika Market, a hub for Central African items. Here, they can find fish sourced from Tanganyika Lake, colorful African clothing, and piles of cassava flour. Two men converse in Swahili by the cash registers.

This West Michigan store is far removed from the conflict zones of Congo. Yet for the Congolese community residing in this small U.S. refugee settlement, the ongoing war, nearly 7,500 miles away, is a constant concern, even as they browse shelves lined with plantains and spices.

“It’s disheartening to see that the issues in Africa are not being addressed seriously,” expressed HanGa Ngandu, who assists at her family’s store. She noted ongoing devastation in her home country and remarked that many people dismiss the situation by saying, “Oh, there’s always something happening in Congo.”

Refugees from the troubled African nations of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan shared with YSL News their feelings of neglect by American society, especially as news about conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine dominates the media.

Both countries in Africa face some of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide, largely attributed to global inaction, and in Congo, the ongoing fight for valuable minerals essential for technology, including phones and electric cars.

The U.S. is home to about 72,000 Sudanese refugees, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. A smaller but rapidly increasing Congolese community has welcomed over 18,000 refugees in the fiscal year 2023, according to the State Department.

“People from Gaza deserve safety and protection,” stated Dr. Yves Kaduli, a Congolese refugee now based in Alexandria, Virginia. “People from Ukraine also deserve security. And people from Congo, especially from Kivu, we too deserve safety and protection.”

The Shock of the Sudan War Reminds Us of Early Pandemic Days

Alaa Suliman had just begun a two-week break from teaching in the Bay Area when her mother’s phone call on April 15, 2023, changed everything.

Conflict erupted in Khartoum, Sudan’s heavily populated capital, leading to over 15,500 deaths and the largest child displacement crisis in the world. Suliman’s parents found themselves trapped in the city as fighting began, with the sounds of bombs echoing in their calls.

“Being thousands of miles away makes you feel helpless,” recalled Suliman, 42.

The initial phase of the war resembled the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as people hoped for a quick resolution. “Then you realize it’s not going to end soon,” she added.

A fierce struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces erupted into conflict last April, with U.S. officials and human rights organizations accusing the RSF of carrying out ethnic cleansing. Recently, U.N. experts have stated that both factions are employing starvation as a war tactic while blocking humanitarian aid, leading to an impending famine.

As Suliman grappled with the anxiety of whether her family would endure, she also mourned the abrupt end of a dream she cherished. She had planned to return to Sudan to aid in its rebuilding.

“I wanted to contribute to that better vision for Sudan. Then suddenly, it felt like that was off the table. But things moved too quickly to even process that loss,” she shared.

Ultimately, her parents and brother managed to flee with just their carry-ons, leaving behind their belongings, Suliman said. With many public buildings destroyed, there likely exists no formal record of their identity or claim to their home.

As her family continues to carry the burden of war, Suliman remains acutely aware of other global conflicts.

“It’s only natural to feel anguish when your people are suffering and facing what looks like a silent genocide,” Suliman reflected. “Yet I recognize how the situation in Gaza”

Suliman expressed her excitement over the attention Gaza is receiving, something that makes her very happy.

She has a deep personal connection to the Gaza Strip due to its historic and religious importance. As a human being, she grieves for the immense damage that has occurred.

However, Suliman wishes for more focus on her parents’ homeland while still addressing other conflicts. “I don’t want Gaza to be highlighted like Sudan. I want Sudan to be highlighted like Gaza.”

Fighting for peace in Congo from a Virginia town

Kaduli anxiously sits by his phone in Alexandria, Virginia, hoping for news from his relatives. Sometimes, it takes months for the phone to ring.

The 38-year-old left behind his esteemed career as a general physician and his loved ones three years ago, having suffered abuse at the hospital in Kalonge, a village in Congo’s South Kivu, for speaking out against the government.

“I thought that reaching the United States would mean safety for me, and it feels like my dream has come true.”

Due to poor phone and internet connectivity in Congo, Kaduli has been unable to find his mother, but he last knew she was in Goma, where clashes have recently occurred. His 10-year-old son, Ivan, is currently taking shelter in a Catholic church, he shared.

Arriving in the U.S. brought its own hurdles. Kaduli mentioned some people perceive him as a criminal simply because he is an immigrant and refugee.

Yet, his goal of advocating for peace in Congo inspires him to remain in the U.S. He works at a senior living facility and assists national immigrant advocacy groups CASA and African Communities Together. While his medical degree did not transfer here, he hopes to stay in the medical field in some form.

“I have faith that this country will help me transform both my life and the world,” he expressed.

However, Kaduli has found that despite his efforts in advocacy, responses to his pleas have been minimal, especially in comparison to other conflicts.

When Ukraine was under attack, Kaduli observed that Western nations quickly mobilized, while his people have been left in the shadows. A recent report from ONE Campaign highlighted that aid from G7 countries to Africa has dropped to its lowest level since 1973.

According to a spokesperson from the State Department, in the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. offered $677 million in humanitarian assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo and nearly $596 million to Sudan through international and NGO partners. In contrast, over $16 billion was allocated to Ukraine during that same timeframe, as per federal statistics.

Kaduli aims to bring attention to the corporate interests behind the catastrophic situation in his home country, fearing that if he doesn’t continue to advocate, the crisis will only deteriorate further.

“If we don’t raise awareness and inform people about what’s happening in Congo, no one will be educated, and no one will act to make a positive change,” he stated.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured decades of ongoing turmoil linked to historical issues dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, as noted by the humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide U.S. Conflict in the late 1990s evolved into localized skirmishes over land, resources, and political power. Violence has surged again since 2021 with the revival of M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda, attacking the Congolese military.

For numerous years, human rights organizations have raised awareness of the concealed connections between the ongoing violence and the protracted battle over precious natural resources.

While many in Congo, like Kaduli’s mother, lack easy access to modern technologies, the country’s minerals power devices for millions worldwide. For instance, over 70% of the world’s known cobalt is mined in Congo, which is crucial for technology production.

Most recently, a coalition of international lawyers questioned Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook about the company’s sourcing of “blood minerals,” like cobalt, which have been linked to armed groups that exploit them, perpetuating violence against the people of Congo.

The State Department did not comment on whether it supports the claims against Apple when approached for a statement by YSL News. However, they acknowledged that the company has a “longstanding public record of proactive engagement on matters related to supply chains linked to eastern DRC” and routinely communicates with Apple and other U.S. firms regarding mineral-related concerns.

“Various stakeholders, including governments, corporations, workers, and consumers, must play their parts in eliminating child labor and other human rights violations that can occur at any stage of a global supply chain,” a State Department representative mentioned. “No site anywhere in the world should accept child labor, forced labor, unsafe conditions, or any infringement on workers’ rights.”

For further details, the State Department referred inquiries to Apple and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Representatives for Apple and the SEC have not commented when contacted by YSL News.

A visit to a refugee camp haunts a Sudanese American

Encountering old friends and relatives struggling at a crowded refugee camp was one of the “most difficult experiences” that Abdelillah Douda, 58, has ever faced.

“They candidly told me, ‘You came from America, but Americans have forgotten us,’” Douda recalled.

A Sudanese American, Douda has been a vocal advocate for immigration and anti-war efforts in his hometown of New Haven and has witnessed the painful realities of ongoing conflict for decades.

Douda’s trip to Chad in November was a striking experience. In this neighboring country to Sudan, over 553,000 Sudanese refugees have sought asylum. He noticed that the refugees were crafting shelters from grass, wood, and other materials they could gather. Unfortunately, clean water and sanitation facilities were nearly nonexistent, leading to very unsanitary living conditions.

Working together with nonprofit organizations like Sudan Sunrise, based in the U.S., Douda aimed to raise funds for a temporary hospital within the camps, which would be staffed by medical professionals forced to escape their homeland. However, Douda was disheartened when only a small number of aid organizations replied positively to his requests for assistance.

While Douda feels increasingly frustrated by the lack of support for his efforts to end the war, he is also coping with the grief of losing his mother during the initial evacuation as hostilities erupted.

He is now in the process of trying to secure visas for the remaining members of his family to join him in the U.S., as the ongoing conflict forced them to scatter from El Geneina—a city where human rights organizations have reported severe violations.

According to a report released in May by Human Rights Watch, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a military entity engaged in clashes with the Sudanese army, along with allied militias, have executed an ethnic cleansing operation targeting non-Arab communities in El Geneina, resulting in thousands of deaths and mass displacements.

Pastor finds comfort and challenges in Grand Rapids community

Banza Mukalay was unfamiliar with the term “refugee” until the year 1998, when he was compelled to flee the Congo along with his wife, mother, and 1-year-old daughter to a congested camp in Tanzania.

Mukalay recalled the camp’s sticky red mud and makeshift homes constructed from trees and plastic sheets. He stated that refugees were only allowed within the camp’s perimeters. His three younger children were born in the camp, while others, including Mukalay’s mother, passed away there longing for a way out.

After enduring 15 years in those makeshift shelters, where he earned a mere $10 each month as a social worker, Mukalay and his family immigrated to the U.S.

Once settled, he founded the Restoration Community Church in a modest basement room in Wyoming, Michigan, where neat rows of navy-blue chairs are arranged, and walls adorned with draping gold curtains create a welcoming atmosphere. He presently co-manages the church with a former neighbor from the refugee camp.

“I feel like I’m truly living,” he expressed about his life in the U.S. “In a refugee camp, one doesn’t feel alive.”

Mukalay praised the Grand Rapids community for its unwavering support, emphasizing his unique appreciation for the U.S. as an immigrant who discovered refuge after enduring hardship and can now advocate for his people freely.

However, the tranquility was shattered on April 4, 2022, when a gunshot echoed through his community.

Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese man whom Mukalay regarded as almost a son, was shot and killed by a Grand Rapids police officer during a traffic stop. Officer Christopher Schurr was eventually charged with second-degree murder for his actions, which ignited national outrage regarding police brutality.

This tragic event led some members of the Congolese community to question their choice of moving to the U.S. if their children were also at risk here, Mukalay recalled.

“As a refugee from Congo, we are very sensitive to the sight of someone being killed,” he remarked, referring to the collective trauma stemming from years of conflict.

Even during their time in the refugee camp, where they had to create their shelters and often survived on just beans and peas, Mukalay noted that at least there was a sense of safety—a feeling that has been lost in West Michigan.

Yet, he remarked that his friends and neighbors found hope in the support they received from individuals outside the Congolese community who also condemned Lyoya’s killing.

“We are not alone.”