| CONGO-DEM.REPUBLIC 20/12/2004 16:18 | |
| KIVU CRISIS: KANYABAYONGA, FIGHTING SPREADS TO OTHER TOWNS | |
| General, Brief | |
|
�Fighting also continued in the areas of Kanyabayonga and Walikale this morning,� reports a MISNA source in the eastern province of North Kivu, where regular troops sent by the government to �secure the area� and groups of mutinous soldiers opposed to their deployment have been fighting for several days. According to the information in circulation � also confirmed by �Radio Okapi�, the broadcaster of MONUC (UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo), this morning � the sides resumed heavy fighting in Nyabiondo and Kaina at the first light of dawn. Both areas are situated north of the provincial capital Goma. The fact that fighting has moved to Kaina � around 15 kilometres from Kanyabayonga, the village of 30.000 people that emptied ten days ago and which has been the epicentre of the violence up until now � would seem to suggest that the government forces have pulled back. According to Congolese army officer contacted by Radio Okapi, the government soldiers have temporarily suspended their offensive pending further orders from Kinshasa. Instead in Nyabiondo (Masisi territory), the mutineers (all of whom come from the Rwanda-backed ex rebel group RCD-Goma that has de facto control of the area) have allegedly attacked Mayi Mayi (Congolese nationalists close to Kinshasa) positions, causing them to retaliate. Meanwhile, the administrator of Walikale has announced that the city (which is at the centre of intense mining activity) is now completely empty following clashes in Mubi between the reinforcements from Kinshasa and unidentified Rwandan-speaking soldiers. The population opted to seek refuge in the jungle in the fear of violent reprisals. [LC] | |
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