AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - More than 10,000 escape fighting in north east Congo taking refuge in Uganda

Tuesday, 22 February 2005

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Kinshasa (Fides Service)- More than 10,000 people have fled from Congo to Uganda since the a new outbreak of fighting between tribal guerrillas and former rebels in the north eastern part of Democratic Congo. The refugees reached Uganda after travelling 35 kilometres by canoe on Lake Albert.
The fighting is between the Mai Mai (local tribal guerrillas) and members of the RCD-Goma (Congolese Union for Democracy, the main guerrilla movement in Congo backed by Rwanda). There are also reports of clashes between Lendu and Hema fighting over land in the region of Ituri (north-east Congo, see Fides 14 February 2005). In Ituri at least 50,000 people have been killed since 1999.
The tribal clashes are exploited by other groups interested in the region’s natural resources. Ituri is rich in gold, coltan (used for producing mobile telephones), uranium and oil, the latter still to be exploited. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2005 righe 17 parole 189)