THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2010 08:09 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2010 08:09 |
|
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebels closed in on the eastern town of Goma on Wednesday, causing panic among residents and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of international aid workers and United Nations staff. About 45 000 internal refugees, most of whom had only arrived on foot a day earlier, fled a displaced persons' camp near Goma as forces loyal to Tutsi warlord Laurent Nkunda battled international peacekeepers and government troops. After UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned of a humanitarian crisis of "catastrophic dimensions", the rebels announced on Wednesday night they were declaring a unilateral ceasefire "to avoid panicking the population of Goma". Nkunda's men have already captured several key towns near Goma in North Kivu province and raised fears of a return to full-scale war in the DRC. The national army has been routed, and troops were reported to be fleeing Goma . Tension between DRC and Rwanda, which it accuses of supporting Nkunda, also increased sharply, as they traded accusations on Wednesday over cross-border artillery attacks. The US said while Rwanda was not directly involved in the fighting, its territory was being used to support rebels. The rebel advance has caused alarm in the international community. The French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, called for the deployment of a hundreds-strong European Union force to eastern DRC, while the UN Security Council expressed "grave concern" at the fighting and called an emergency meeting to discuss an urgent request for more troops for the UN peacekeeping force. The US has dispatched its top Africa envoy, Jendayi Frazer, for talks in the DRC capital, Kinshasa. Louis Michel, the EU's development aid commissioner, was also there to meet President Joseph Kabila. DRC's previous wars between 1997 and 2003, which sucked in several neighbouring countries, caused the greatest loss of life anywhere since World War II, with more than five million deaths, mainly from hunger and illness. Since then the mineral-rich east region has remained restive, despite a peace agreement signed by all main rebel groups in January this year. Nkunda, who is though to have 5 000 fighters in his National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), claims to be protecting the minority Tutsi population in the east from Hutu militias linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Despite signing the deal he refuses to disarm, accusing government forces of breaking the ceasefire and collaborating with Hutu rebels. Both the army and the CNDP rebels have a deep mistrust of Monuc (the UN mission to DRC), the 17 000-strong peacekeeping force, and have separately attacked it in recent days. Monuc has pledged to defend the North Kivu towns of Goma, Sake, Masisi and Rutshuru, which was abandoned by the Congolese forces. But Alain Doss, Monuc's chief, said the force was "stretched to the limit", and has requested additional support. After coming under much criticism for failing to protect civilians, Monuc attack helicopters on Wednesday fired on Nkunda's forces in Kibumba, north of Goma, stalling the rebel progress. "We were positioned just 15km from town, but Monuc engaged us with their helicopter gunships," Amani Babu, a senior CNDP officer, told Agence France-Presse. "We think in two or three days we will be able to take the town of Goma." Aid agencies say that would be a disaster. About 250 000 people have been forced from their homes in North Kivu this year. Tens of thousands have fled their homes or shelters on foot this week. About 30 000 arrived at a camp in Kibati, about 10km north of Goma, in recent days, "exhausted and traumatised". But the camp emptied on Wednesday when refugees saw government forces retreating south "fairly fast, and in fairly large numbers", according to Ron Redmond, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency. Before the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday night the atmosphere in Goma was tense. There were reports of government troops firing into the air and commandeering vehicles. Civilians hurled rocks at a UN compound near the airport as rumours swirled that the town was about to be overrun. -- guardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008 TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
Comments
Arnold Kapend on October 30, 2008, 10:51 am
Tthose who seek to blame Kagame and Nkunda don't really understand the conflict. The blame squarely lies on the Congolese government who have consistently continued to side with genocide perpetrators of the ex-far and Interahamwe.
Congolese Tutsis have every right to defend themselves if their own government can't gurantee their safety. The war in the east of DRC will only end when they begin to seriously protect all their citizens -- and for God's sake leave Rwanda out of this. The country has started to heal its wounds and is moving forward. They can't have any interest in Congo's eternal problems. p.kaitakirwa,kokstad south africa
peter kaitakirwa on October 30, 2008, 5:54 pm
Well its amazing to be hearing the comments from Arnold Kapend. Its the same old story which Africa seems not able to address. Things which Africa should remember are just the basic things. Who cares when it comes to Africa, why now? When the SADC in 1998 went into DRC what happened? Why now? Basic logic should reign here.
The Darfur Crisis how long has it been going on, and how come Europe and the US have not send a Soldier? Why are they sending thousand of soldiers to DRC now, who are they defending, especially in the minerial rich region of the world? Its about taking and plundering and controlling the Coltan. This situation is not a surprise. Please lets read between the rhetoric statements which are made against African governments by the west. Didnt Mugabe warn about it way back then and was booed. Lets ask the AU to send the soldiers to this region. Why now, after The COMESA Agreements were signed in Uganda, showed that this region has enough resources and capital to drive and develop ourselves. The war is occuring in the centre of Africa, who is driving it for whose benefit. If the Tutsi are trying to protecting themselves, why not go to Rwanda and then have the Hutu go to Burundi. This is why these two countries were created to create an enclave for the smaller tribes, but with another agenda, to destabilize Africa for life.
Thuthukani Mkhize on October 30, 2008, 6:42 pm
My brother I agree with what you are saying. But, at the same time you must be aware that as long as the big guys are using you like they did with Mubutu to reach their own intrest you are well protected. As for Rwanda and Nkunda, they must be well aware that who ever is behind them one day when He or she will reach his or her goals will just drop them like the sweet potato. I must say it is not easy to see just a one thin man terifying the big nation like DRC, it is clear that someone must be behind him. You know Bashir used the LRA to fight Museveni and to destabilise Uganda and when he reached his goal he even send the LRA rebels out of Sudan and that is why they are looking for food in Congo.. the very same thing happen to Idris In Tchad corcening the issue of Children, France use some ways in order to bring Idris in their knees so that they can continue to exploit the petrol in tchad and as I said whoever is behind these two thin tall rwandian boys, one day will drop them. What we need in Africa is peace not egoism and personal intrest people like the two thin boys. Viva DRR! Viva Afrika! Viva Justice and Peace and down with two thin boys! Down with UN! Down with USA...
Kedebone Magoma on October 30, 2008, 7:54 pm
Congo has 250 ethnic groups and Tutsis only make up 3% of the population. That is after the Congolese showed hospitality and offered identification & Congolese nationality to Tutsi refugees, so that they could be recognized. Yet this is what Congo gets in return? I doubt this is an ethnic problem. When I heard Nkunda mentioning the Chinese contracts as a point of discussion for his negotiations with the government, I soon figured out where this conflict is coming from. It could explain the EU's reluctance to send more troops to Congo. How can the UN security councils say that they will debate Alan Doss' plea to send reinforcements to Congo within the next 2 month when the rebels are at the threshold of Goma and vow to take it within days? It seems to me that multinationals are taking sides between the government and rebels to secure their interests in Congo. Almost 50 years ago, Russia & USA were scrambling for Congo. History is repeating itself and as usual it is the poor Congolese people who suffer.
Daniel M on October 30, 2008, 10:12 pm
click here to log in
M&G Online Comment Guidelines In Brief
Advertising Links
|
2,3-million titles to choose from.
iPod nano 16GB - Black, Was R2,499.00 Now R2,299.00! Save R200!
46 000 DVDs and Blu-Ray on sale now!
100s of new releases now in stock. Get the new Sade & Bon Jovi albums.
Widest toy range and unbeatable prices!
AdvertisementsAdvertising links |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||







Kagama and Nkunda need to be taken to the international court for crimes against humanity.
Do you really have to kill dozens of people, forcing people to leave their homes with no food ,no medications just because of its so called defense of the Tutsi minority. Those who are suffering ,don’t they have right to better life ?
Imagine if everyone has to defend its tribe in that big country , which has more than 250 tribes what is gonna happen?
No, enough is enough. I called upon the international community to stop those two criminals(Kagame and Nkunda) before Congo turns to another Sudan. Before Kagama creates another genocide like he did in Rwanda with the help of Hutu extremists.
Please African brother and sisters , lets stands against leaders who are pulling us back to misery, starvation and war in Africa.
Lets fight for progress, prosperity and peace for our continent.
God bless Africa, and protect the people of the Eastern part of Congo