Thesis advisor: O. Ernesto Valiente / Thesis advisor: Andrew R. Davis / Reconciliation is based on a change in the attitude of humans toward one another and toward God. Jacob returns to Canaan to obey an order of God and to fulfill his promise. His encounter with God upsets him. His deference to Esau shows a change of attitude that produces a reciprocal effect on his brother. By sharing his wealth, Jacob recognizes the goodness of God who has filled him, accompanied him on his return and touched Esau to welcome him. Esau, also beneficiary of God's generosity, knows how to forget the past and to show himself in favor of his brother. The two brothers are blessed, and they bless each other. This mutual blessing goes beyond the sharing of material wealth. The forgiveness granted and received constitutes a central piece where each protagonist feels lifted up: Jacob recovers his status of a brother (no longer a target to be destroyed), and Esau’s face reminds the loving face of God. And I think, this is the moment when reconciliation happens between the two brothers. The account of Genesis 32-33 provides us with the (historical) example of a process of reconciliation anchored in a spiritual vision, with the participation of God and human beings. These features of Jacob-Esau process of reconciliation can be built upon to foster reconciliation among the estranged individuals and groups in the Congolese and African context. / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. August 2014. / The Central African Copperbelt is located in the Lufilian Arc which straddles the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mineralisation of the cupriferous Arc is found in basal Neoproterozoic Katangan Supergroup sedimentary rocks, which in DRC are termed the Mines Series Subgroup. The Mines Series is divided into the dolomitic and carbonaceous GRAT, DStrat RSF, RSC, SD and CMN units. The composition of the units is homogeneous across the Lubumbashi district and potentially across the Katangan basin. This study focussed on the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits in the Lubumbashi district, which are approximately 50 km apart. The study confirmed that relative eustatic sea level changes resulted in the non-deposition of the RSF and RSC stratigraphic units at Kinsevere. Sedimentation was followed by early pervasive potassic alteration and silicification at the diagenetic stage whilst a magnesian dolomitisation event resulted in alteration of potassic feldspars and recrystallisation of carbonates. Albitisation was veincontrolled and late-stage scapolitisation altered evaporitic nodules. Finally, haematisation by late iron-rich fluids circulating through the Roan Group strata resulted in oxidation of sulphides. The structural analysis of Kinsevere Central pit indicates E-W and N-S shortening whereas the Ruashi pit 1 deposit underwent NE-SW and N-S shortening. Initial shortening, associated with Kolwezian deformation (D1), resulted in the formation of NE-thrust folds and a primary set of joints. The Kolwezian deformation event (D2), reoriented the shortening direction from E-W to N-S, creating interference folds and possibly a second set of joints. The final phase in the structural evolution of the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits was late-stage brittle deformation (faulting). Mineralisation was a multi-stage process. Disseminated chalcopyrite and carrollite were deposited from formation waters during diagenesis in a stable basin environment. Chalcopyrite, carrollite, chalcocite and bornite are predominantly located at the base of the DStrat, whereas chalcopyrite and pyrite dominate the stratigraphically higher portions of the deposits. Hypogene vein mineralisation began at the syn- to late- orogenic stage with carrollite and chalcopyrite in beddingparallel veins. Possible changes in the compression direction created the perpendicularly oriented veins that host chalcopyrite, carrollite, bornite, covellite, digenite and chalcocite. Finally a late stage of chalcopyrite and pyrite deposition occurred in and around the evaporites, indicating a strong correlation between mineralisation, evaporites and scapolitisation. iii Near-surface supergene alteration of hypogene sulphide ores, resulted in Cu-Co carbonates and oxides, such as malachite, azurite, cobaltiferous malachite, chrysocolla, kolwezite and sphaerocobaltite being deposited in vugs and pore spaces above the meteoric water line. Faulted and brecciated zones tend to have deeper supergene alteration. Between the sulphide facies at depth and the supergene oxide facies at surface is a transition zone which marks the depth to which oxidation has penetrated. Sulphur isotope analysis from the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits suggests a sulphur contribution from a continental Red-Bed sedimentary source and from an evaporitic source.

Thesis advisor: M. Shawn Copeland / Thesis advisor: O. Ernesto Valiente / The title of this essay is deliberately provocative. It aims at drawing attention on the reality of Christian churches full everyday – not only on sundays – with people who everyday die from hunger. In the Congo-Zaire. Behind the image of crowded churches, I see the complex reality of Christianity, and behind the image of empty stomachs, I have in view the complex reality of poverty, oppression, violence and death. It is paradoxical that those two realities grow together. This essay explores the sources of that paradox, going back to the first encounter of the people of the old Kongo Kingdom, and later on Congo-Zaire, with Christianity. It analyzes the relationships between Christianity and the poor throughout the history of the Congo-Zaire. It examines the message of salvation brought by Christianity and how it is related to the people’s conditions of life. The conclusion is tough, but unavoidable. First, Christianity during colonial times – which I call missionary Christianity – in the Congo-Zaire did not side with the poor. It served the interests of the powerful, to safeguard its own interests. It despised the way of life of the autochthonous and destroyed their identity. Second, Christianity today in the Congo-Zaire – which I call postindependence Christianity – struggles with the heritage of the colonial past, but it basically continues to function following the same model. We still live in the colonial settings. Therefore, this for me is the key to resolving the paradox. Following the insights of postcolonial theories, turn the page of colonial Christianity, move towards what I call a “postcolonial Christianity.” That postcolonial Christianity should be informed by the African way of life (hence re-appropriating the values of the autochthonous) and rooted in the preferential option for the poor, which is the main principle at the heart of liberation theology. There lies a great challenge: how to actualize that postcolonial Christianity in the Congo-Zaire? / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

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No description available.

Over recent decades, civil wars in Africa have taken millions of lives and caused widespread destruction of whole states and regions. The living standards of peoples residing in such states in Africa which have been devastated by war are often deplorable, with violence, disease and poverty characterising life there. Lawlessness is another feature of such wars, making these states optimal places for international terrorist groups to operate in, and from. For both the above reasons, the West should not turn a blind eye to this issue. These wars that have occurred in a number of African states, including Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan, have often become regionalised with surrounding states increasingly becoming involved. This is particularly the case when economic gain can be sought through involvement in the civil war. The introduction of regional actors into domestic civil wars frequently serves to intensify and prolong the conflict, through an increase of arms and troops entering the fighting. The surrounding state actors largely claim to be involved for political reasons, namely to provide security to their own state. However, numerous credible reports have shown that vast plundering of natural resources has been carried out in war-time by surrounding states in the war-torn state. Consequently, this thesis examines the motives of surrounding state actors when deciding to participate in domestic civil wars of their neighbours. To do this, I compile case studies on both Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo since both states had been ravaged by violent and drawn-out civil wars involving regional actors. Furthermore, the regional actors in both cases (Liberia in Sierra Leone, and particularly Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe in the DRC) have been accused of participating in the wars for economic gain. The case studies showed that while political motivations largely drive the initial decision by regional actors to participate in civil wars in their region, it is subsequently economic gain that both allows and compels them to continue their involvement in the civil war. Henceforth, in the final chapter, I put investigate policy suggestions for the future including: prevention of resources being used to fuel warfare through controlling their access to legitimate channels; the use of aid to reduce the likelihood of those in poverty turning to war in pursuit of sustenance, including opportunities to target aid and use compliance with particular peace agreements as a prerequisite for attaining the funding; diversification of the economies of these weak states through development assistance to reduce risks produced by a high dependency on primary commodity exports for income and financial sanctions in the form of freezing of assets or asset blocking. These policy suggestions seek to address both the political and economic motivations of the surrounding state actors in participating in civil wars in Africa.

ABSTRACT Background: Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitological disease and constitutes one of the major neglected public health problems in the word. The consequences that this disease causes in the population are subject of controversy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of schistosomiasis in term of malnutrition, anemia and low school performance in an endemic region, naïve of interventions. Methods: The study was conducted in Kasansa health zone in Democratic Republic of Congo where schistosomiasis has been endemic for decades. School aged children were recruited at home. From each child, anthropometric measures, biological and laboratory exams were obtained. The questionnaire was used for economic status, behavior and other factors related to schistosomiasis. Regression logistic was used to control confounding factors. A 95% confidence interval was used for statistically significance. Results: The proportion of malnutrition was 53.8%, anemia 67.0% and low school performance 41.1%. In this health zone, the study found and confirmed a high proportion of children who are infected with S. mansoni (89.3%) and malaria (65.1%). Conclusions: This study showed high proportions of complications that are usually reported as associated with schistosomiasis, among school aged children in the health zone of Kasansa. Future studies are needed to show causality and to find efficient ways to control these morbidities.

No description available.

Most of what we know of the socioecology and behaviour of gorillas comes from studies of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), despite their representing less than 1% of all gorillas in the wild. Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) have received far less research effort, and difficulties in habituation have led previous studies to rely heavily on indirect trail evidence. This has prevented any in-depth comparison of social structure and behaviour between species. The discovery of swampy clearings frequented by western lowland gorillas in northern Congo has offered the first opportunity to obtain accurate demographic and behavioural data. This thesis reports on 6273 hours of observer presence at Mbeli Bai, which yielded 1681 hours of direct gorilla observation. Most data come from a population of 13 groups and 7 solitary silverbacks. Group size ranged from 2 to 16 (mean = 8.4, SD 4.3) which does not differ significantly from data published on most other populations. Female natal and secondary transfer were recorded, and male emigration from the natal group appeared universal (no multi-silverback groups were recorded). No evidence of sub-grouping or a fission-fusion grouping pattern was found. During intra-group interactions, no evidence was recorded of female philopatry, and silverbacks herded and intimidated females (especially new immigrants) to prevent emigration. Inter-unit interactions took place on only 42% of shared bai-use occasions, and levels of silverback agonism were much lower than in mountain gorillas, with peaceful mingling of groups recorded. Display behaviour was common, and two previously unrecorded agonistic displays (the splash display and the crest display) are described. No contact aggression between silverbacks was observed but evidence of wounding sustained in the forest suggests that the bai environment may inhibit such aggression. High visibility and the ease of silverback 'policing' are thought to create an unusually tolerant social dynamic, and as such, frequencies of certain social behaviours should probably be viewed as site-specific. The thesis offers the fullest account of western gorilla social structure and behaviour to date. Long-term monitoring of life history variables, if continued, will provide an unparalleled opportunity to understand the effects of habitat and food availability and more stochastic influences on western gorilla social structure, fitness, and survival.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 263-282).