World

Rebels claim capture of DR Congo border town

Tuesday, June 14th, 2022 00:15 | By
Internally displace people from the Kibumba area near the North Kivu city of Goma, take refuge at the Kunyaruchinya school trying to shelter from the ongoing clashes between the Congolese Army and the M23 rebels. COURTESY
Internally displace people from the Kibumba area near the North Kivu city of Goma, take refuge at the Kunyaruchinya school trying to shelter from the ongoing clashes between the Congolese Army and the M23 rebels. COURTESY

Dozens of soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo have crossed into Uganda after the M23 rebels blocked the main road to Rutshuru.

Ugandan army spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulaigye told the BBC that the soldiers were being received at a Ugandan army barracks at the border town of Bunagana.

A source told the BBC that some of the Congolese soldiers had arrived in military vehicles while others crossed on foot. Reports indicate that the M23 rebels overran the Congolese side of Bunagana on Monday morning.

Pictures of overturned armoured vehicles believed to belong to the Congolese army - the FARDC, have also been shared on social media. UN agencies say that more than 30,000 people in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province fled their homes over the weekend.

Hundreds have been internally displaced while others have crossed the border to Uganda. The Ugandan side of Bunagana border town is crowded with people who have fled their homes due to the fighting over the last couple of days.

Some had wanted to return home on Monday morning, but even more, people are now fleeing the fighting.

Fighting between the government forces and the army has intensified over the last couple of weeks after the Congolese government designated the M23 as a terrorist group and refused their calls for a bilateral ceasefire or peace negotiations.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the group made up of mainly ethnic Congolese Tutsi, but the government in Kigali has continually denied these accusations.

More than 30,000 people have fled their homes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following heavy fighting between the army and M23 rebels in Rutshuru, near the border with Uganda.

About 5,000 fled to Uganda, while 25,000 others are camping in schools and churches in Rwanguba, Kabindi and Kinoni areas of Rutshuru, the UN’s humanitarian affairs office says.

The army and the rebels accuse each other of instigating the fighting and each claim to have won the Sunday clashes. In a statement, the army said it now controls the border town of Bunagana.

But M23 spokesperson, Willy Ngoma, said they killed many government soldiers and others had left behind their weapons while fleeing to areas around Bunagana.

The army accused Rwanda of helping the rebels’ attempt to take Bunagana. Rwandan officials have consistently denied allegations of supporting the M23 rebels.

On Saturday, the Rwandan and Congolese armies had accused each other of shelling across the border.

More on World


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES World


ADVERTISEMENT