In Photos, the Tension Before Battle

Joseph Kay among Congolese soldiers on the eve of combat

In Photos, the Tension Before Battle In Photos, the Tension Before Battle

Uncategorized August 24, 2013

Joseph Kay photo In Photos, the Tension Before Battle Joseph Kay among Congolese soldiers on the eve of combat Fighting flared in eastern Democratic... In Photos, the Tension Before Battle
Joseph Kay photo

In Photos, the Tension Before Battle

Joseph Kay among Congolese soldiers on the eve of combat

Fighting flared in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Aug. 21 after rebels from the M23 group lobbed mortars at government troops near Goma, shattering a month of relative peace.

The subsequent battle around several strategic volcanic hills claimed many lives, although the exact toll is unknown. Mortars burst, guns popped and tanks churned the lush earth.

But before the fateful nighttime blasts and the ensuing combat, the combatants in North Kivu province had little to do but train and wait … and try not to think about the coming violence—weirdly spiritual moments captured in these images from this summer.

Much more violence could be coming. The Congolese army and the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo are mobilizing more troops and vehicles to reinforce the government soldiers around Goma.

A Congolese government soldier and his harmonica. Joseph Kay photo
A Congolese army commando disassembles and cleans his machine gun. Joseph Kay photo
A soldier and his AK-47. Joseph Kay photo
Boots and machine gun. Joseph Kay photo
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