DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: National army pushes back M23 rebels from their positions, as civilians caught up in the fighting flee the violence

Record ID: 375593

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: National army pushes back M23 rebels from their positions, as civilians caught up in the fighting flee the violence
  • Date: 25th July 2012
  • Summary: KIBUMBA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (JULY 25, 2012) (REUTERS) FARDC SOLDIERS GETTING ON TRUCK THAT IS EN ROUTE TO THE FRONT LINE FARDC TANK DRIVING TOWARDS FRONT LINE VARIOUS OF FARDC COMMANDOS WALKING TOWARDS FRONT LINE FARDC SPOKESMAN, COLONEL OLIVIER AMULI SITTING IN CAR AMULI'S USING MOBILE PHONE IN CAR (SOUNDBITE) (French) FARDC SPOKESMAN, OLIVIER AMULI, SAYI
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4MXRYRW6AW1OKAYXXMI548JRK
  • Story Text: Congolese government forces aided by U.N. peacekeepers continued fighting the M23 rebel group with heavy weapons around two eastern villages on Wednesday (July 25), as thousands of civilians fled towards the provincial capital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    As clashes continued, U.N. helicopter gunships were seen heading towards the front line near Kibumba and Rugari.
    The M23 had hoped to move to the capital of North Kivu Province, but their imminent move on Goma seems to have been halted.
    Congolese government soldiers were seen driving in convoys to the direction where fighting was taking place.
    A rebellion launched in April has already forced some 260,000 people to flee their homes. U.N. experts have said neighbouring Rwanda is backing the rebels, prompting the United States, a key ally of Kigali's, to cut some military aid.
    Rwanda denies it is supporting the rebels.
    Heavy weapons fire could be heard on the road between Goma and Kibumba in the early morning and afternoon.
    Congolese national army spokesman Olivier Amuli said their forces had pushed back the rebels, but heavy fighting was still occurring. He said M23 had lost a number of their fighters during the battle.
    ''The enemy has been pushed back and had huge losses, there is still some fighting continuing in the Rutshuru and Kiwanja area and for the time being, the Republican Forces are doing a great job, especially as they take into account the security of the civilians who are the most vulnerable in such times," Congolese army spokesman Olivier Amuli said.
    Three U.N. gunships flew in the direction of the fighting on Wednesday, but it was not clear if they took part in the clashes.
    U.N. peacekeepers have previously fired on rebel positions in support of government troops. They have also reinforced positions around Goma in a bid to make sure the rebels, known as the M23, cannot threaten the town.
    With fighting going on, thousands of people, mostly women laden with bags on their heads have been forced from their homes. They were seen making their way towards the provincial capital.
    Civilians running away from the front line said M23 fighters were able to outnumber the government forces and went ahead and stole the national army's ration.
    ''The CNDP came at 8am to attack the government positions. We all lay down, as the government forces were not reacting because there were too many CNDP. We lay down and they fired a lot of bullets and the M23 managed to steal the government forces rations," said a displaced woman Any Gema.
    The new rebellion has led to an escalation in tensions between Congo and Rwanda after three years of generally improved relations following years of conflict between the neighbours.
    Leaders from Africa's Great Lakes region plan to send a "neutral force" to Congo to end cycles of violence though no details have yet emerged on where the troops will come from or when they will be deployed.
    Uganda, another neighbour of Congo's, said on Tuesday (July 24) it would host a summit in early August to discuss the crisis.
    The M23 rebel movement is mostly made up of fighters from a former rebellion that Rwanda was also accused of supporting, before a peace deal was signed and they were integrated into Congo's army.
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