GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 12 (Reuters) – Regional authorities in jap Democratic Republic of Congo stated Rwandan troopers and artillery had supported assaults by the M23 insurgent group on Sunday, accusing Rwanda of searching for to occupy the Congolese border city of Bunagana.
The violence pushed over 25,000 individuals to flee the world, with hundreds escaping to neighbouring Uganda, the United Nations humanitarian company OCHA stated.
Congo’s accusations are a part of an escalating dispute between the neighbours that has revived previous animosities. Rwanda denies backing the M23 offensive.
The workplace of the governor of North Kivu province stated Congolese forces had repelled early-morning assaults by M23, backed by Rwandan forces, close to Bunagana and elsewhere.
“The aim pursued by Rwanda is to occupy Bunagana so as not solely to asphyxiate the town of Goma but in addition to place stress on the Congolese authorities,” it stated in an announcement.
The Rwandan authorities couldn’t instantly be reached for remark. It denies enjoying any function in M23’s latest assaults, however has echoed M23 prices that Congo is cooperating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group run by ethnic Hutus who fled Rwanda after collaborating within the 1994 genocide.
On Thursday, Congo accused Rwanda of sending 500 commandos in disguise into jap Congo.
On Friday, the nations accused one another of firing rockets throughout their shared border. Congo’s military stated one strike killed two Congolese youngsters. Learn full story
(Reporting by Fiston Mahamba and Erikas Mwisi Kambale;Further reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana in Kigali;Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Modifying by Kevin Liffey and Diane Craft)
