Mangina is a town in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), some thirty miles northwest of Beni, near the border
of Uganda.
Mangina became infamous during recent rebellious
warfare between Jean-Pierre Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC)
and the Congolese Rally for Democracy, both allies. During raids in Beni
against the government, rebels allegedly cannibalized villagers in order to
survive. A long running superstition in the Congolese culture suggests that
you gain power from eating an enemy. These rebels fled to Mangina, where they
continue to ravage the country-side.
Mangina suffered a measles outbreak in
December 2002, and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders)
stationed in Mangina continue to vaccinate the Manginal population.
Mangina is home not only to fleeing rebels, but also some 35,000 civilians
who have fled fighting in the surrounding areas, mainly Makeke, which makes
the city a socio-politcal hotbed.
In May 2001, an Eastern Congo militia ambushed
and kidnapped at least a dozen Manginal workers from a logging
camp. The incident became global-wide news when information networks realized
one of the workers in Mangina was a U.S. citizen.
Lest we forget our fallen comrades in Mangina,
let us all pray for peace in Mangina, and a future where children may frolic
free of disease in Mangina.
By the way, I don't know what all the above stuff is all about, talking about male vaginas or something? Mangina is a town in the Congo, and there is a very serious flea outbreak in Mangina right now. Not to be made light of.
References:
http://www.msf.org/
http://www.marekinc.com/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134297095_wdig19.html