New fighting in Congo despite rebel pledges

(CNN) — Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have engaged in heavy fighting with rebels despite their leader’s pledge to back a cease-fire, the United Nations and witnesses said Monday.

People carry bags of flour away from the aid distribution point in a camp for displaced people in Kibati, Congo.

The clashes forced government troops to abandon the eastern Congolese town of Rwindi on Sunday, according to U.N. spokesman Madnodje Moumoubai.

The clashes raged roughly 125 kilometers (75 miles) north of the provincial capital of Goma and smashed a tenuous cease-fire between rebels and government forces.

Scores of people tried to take refuge under artillery fire at a United Nations peacekeeping base in the town but without success, according to The Associated Press.

“These blue helmets would not let us inside, but it’s better than nothing,” Clement Elias, 20, told AP, referring to the U.N. peacekeepers. He said he heard 100 explosions Sunday night.

Oxfam: Nations failing on Congo crisis (reprint)

(CNN) – Nations are abdicating their responsibility by failing to provide enough military aid to the U.N. mission in the war torn Democratic Republic of Congo as it struggles to stop brutal violence, the head of Oxfam International in the Congo said Thursday.

 

Camp dwellers are being treated for multiple health conditions, including cholera and malaria.

“There appears to be no urgency in the international community’s talks on the crisis, but this is a deeply urgent situation. The world is failing in its responsibility to protect the Congo’s innocent civilians,” Juliette Prodhan said in a written statement.

“There has been an increase in incidents of forced labor, rape and widespread brutality,” according to assessments carried out by the humanitarian group over the past week, Prodhan said. “Armed men from all sides prey upon those who have sought ’sanctuary’ from the fighting in North Kivu (province).”

Fighting broke out in the province at the end of August between government forces and rebels led by Gen. Laurent Nkunda.

The fighting was spurred by lingering tensions over the 1994 slaughter of ethnic Tutsis by majority Hutus in neighboring Rwanda. Nkunda says his forces are trying to defend Congolese Tutsis from Hutu militants who escaped to Congo. more>>>

Congo rebels declare cease-fire to prevent panic (reprint)

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) — Rebel forces have declared a cease-fire after four days of fighting in the North Kivu province of eastern Congo, the French ambassador to the United Nations said after Security Council talks on the unfolding humanitarian crisis. more…

Congolese soldiers and displaced civilians move into Goma on Wednesday, fleeing advancing rebels.