Democratic Republic of the Congo: Violence Continues

KINSHASA, 1 July 2009 – Continuing clashes between armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have forced civilians to abandon their homes in North Kivu and affected aid operations, a UN official said.

“These incidents are causing a significant movement of IDPs [internally displaced people] from the area adjacent to Nyabiondo Masisi,” Lt-Col Jean-Paul Dietrich, spokesman for the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC), said.

The national army, FARDC, recently clashed with the Mayi-Mayi group known as the Alliance of People for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS – Alliance du peuple pour un Congo libre et souverain).

Last week, hundreds of IDPs demonstrated near the town of Sake, 30km south of Goma, North Kivu’s capital, blocking a main road. Read whole article…