Kalumbu completes the sentence with the two boys sitting either side of her, not aware of how much trouble they may be in. Bad times More than 14,000 children have been thrown out of their homes This story is being repeated again and again in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the moment. The country has been badly scarred by war - first by the rebel uprising which ousted the corrupt and tyrannical President Mobutu in 1997, then by a second rebel move which is now threatening his successor, President Laurent Kabila. He was Congo's best hope for democracy, but has not yet held an election and is suspected of pocketing state money. To call the economy a basket case does not do even half its problems justice.
People are superstitious here.
They want explanations when things go wrong. Because of the increasing hardship many children end up living with members of their extended family, and a phenomenon which experts say is unique to Congo is developing. Children are being accused of sorcery and chucked onto the streets. The unlucky ones are murdered by their own family members before they escape. Which is why Ikomba and Luwuabisa are in such danger.