• Gambia StatisticsDetailed and zoomable map from the Gambia
  • Taxi InformationTaxi and travel information from the Gambia
  • Sign In
Gambia News Community

Gambia News Community - Have your say!
  • HomeJump start your day with WOW news
  • VideosView videos from different places in Gambia
  • Article Archive
Edit - Delete
Back and NextBack and Next - Back and Next
« TOGO: Observers sanction elections while...
Briton Given D2m Court Bail »
Edit - Delete
Show Media ItemShow Media Item - Thousands flee renewed violence in Congo

Thousands flee renewed violence in Congo

africa » dem rep congo » kinshasa
Sunday, October 21, 2007

Thousands of civilians fled their homes on Saturday amid fierce fighting between local militias and Tutsi-dominated rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission there.

Congolese Army Colonel Delphin Kahimbi said that "very violent attacks" had been reported, and that the fighting was between local militia known as Mai-Mai and rebels loyal to renegade Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda. Major P.K. Tiwari, a military spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, said the fighting "started early this morning and ended late this afternoon." Tiwari said it was not clear who had attacked first.

Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, a spokeswoman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, described the suffering of civilians caught in the fighting as "unbearable". "What I saw was horrendous. It was raining. They didn't know where to go. Three women gave birth while they were fleeing," she said. "The humanitarian consequences of whatever is happening there are very serious."

Since the beginning of the year, 370,000 people have already fled their homes in the province of Nord-Kivu amid fighting between Congo's army, Rwandan Hutu rebels, and rebels loyal to Nkunda. Nkunda accuses Congo's army of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a primarily Hutu rebel group that includes soldiers responsible for the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The Congolese army consistently denies this charge.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Congolese President Joseph Kabila said the army had been authorized to prepare military operations to disarm Nkunda's rebels, of which there are approximately 5,000. Kabila has ruled out the possibility of negotiating with Nkunda.


Source: Wikinews
Edit - Delete
Html Script BoxHtml Script Box - Google Ads
Edit - Delete
See AlsoSee Also - See Also
See Also
  • DRC: Nkunda’s men fail to show up at integration centre
  • SOMALIA: Prime minister quits; violence rocks Mogadishu
  • SOMALIA: Mogadishu residents trapped by violence – MSF
  • KENYA: Land feud claims more lives in Mt Elgon district
Edit - Delete
Html Script BoxHtml Script Box - Google Ads
More From Gambia
  • Gambia Real Estate
  • Gambia Hotels
  • Gambia Restaurants
  • Daily Observer
  • The Point
Gambia News Search:
More From Africa
  • Hey Africa! - a new site dedicated to African news and personalities
  • Nigeria's Voice - Who and what is in Nigeria's news
  • Publish Africa
  • African Photos
  • Africa.gm
  • Ghana Property
  • Nigeria Property
  • Hotel Ghana
Partners
  • Advertise with WOW.gm
  • Contact Us
  • Article Archive
  • Bring Yellow

©Copyright 2006-2009 Rhythm Ltd.

The opinions expressed in any news articles on this website are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Wow.gm and /or Rhythm Ltd.
Website created with Lara by Geographical Media