Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- Joseph Kabila has said he intends to use 'all the necessary means' to restore government rule in north Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fierce fighting between the regular army and Mayi Mayi militia on one side and the rebels of Laurent Nkunda on the other, has continued for some weeks (see Fides 5 September 2007).
"I will not allow anyone, individual or community, to have its own militia. This is impossible and unacceptable. The question is clear. We must restore state rule in the east of the country with all the necessary means” the head of state told the press, calling on Nkunda's men to join the regular national army.
The United Nations Security Council has expressed “deep concern” about the fighting in Kivu, which started at the end of August. The UN peacekeeping mission MONUC in Congo succeeded in imposing a cease fire, which appears fragile and has seen various clashes between Nkunda's men, regular army soldiers and Mayi Mayi militiamen grouped under the banner of Resistant Congo Patriots (PARECO).
The local papers gave ample space to the discovery of three masse graves on a base belonging to the Bravo brigade in Rubare commanded by a man close to Nkunda. The area was evacuated by Nkunda's men on 3 September and was then reached by regular army troops on September 6. At the moment no indication has been given regarding casualties. MONUC sent a report to the Congolese authorities and asked for an investigation into the episode. Fighting has forced at least 50,000 people in the region to flee their homes (see Fides 11 September 2007).
Laurent Nkunda commands two rebel brigades of the unified Congolese army created following peace agreements reached in 2003. He is pursued by an international warrant of arrest for war crimes. The war in Congo, which ended officially in 2003, left a large number of combatants to be integrated either into the unified army or civil society. A problem keenly felt in Kivu where foreign forces are also employed, but also in other parts of the country. José Makila, governor of Equator Province (north east), as warned that the 18,000 former combatants in his province to be integrated “is a time bomb. These young men are out of work. What can they do? Will they turn to crime?” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/9/2007 righe 28 parole 403)
