Refugees flee clashes in DR Congo

KAMPALA.

The Congolese army yesterday clashed with unknown armed groups in the eastern DR Congo, forcing several people to flee into Uganda.
The UPDF Second Division spokesperson, Capt Arthur Timbaganya, said the clashes were near Ugandan-DR Congo border.

“There was fighting across the border. We don’t know, which group was fighting the Congolese army,” he said.

However, there were reports that the fighting was between the Congolese army (FARDC) and at least 40 M23 rebels who were escaping to Uganda. Reports, which the army denied, also indicated that some M23 rebels had surrendered to the UPDF and were driven in trucks by the UPDF to Kisoro District.

UPDF spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire, told this newspaper yesterday, the real identity of the forces involved in yesterday’s forces could only be established by sources on the ground.

“There is a cocktail of negative forces in eastern DRC, and each fighting the other; so we cannot know for sure.”

At least 100 people died in recent weeks following clashes between the Congolese army and militias in Kamwina Nsapu in central DR Congo. According to the UN, at least 39 women were among the victims killed during the fighting between February 9 and 13 this year.

According to UPDF, at least 30 refugees enter Uganda daily from DR Congo fleeing clashes between armed militias and Congolese army.
Brig Karemire, also denied claims that they had ferried some M23 fighters who surrendered to Kisoro.

“All M23 fighters are being kept at Bihanga Military Training School [in Ibanda District] and that is what the earlier arrangement provides,” he said.
Some 101 ex-M23 rebels disguised as civilians and being trucked in four vehicles were last month intercepted as they reportedly made way back to their former hideouts in eastern DRC.

Before a UN-backed regional offensive involving the South African army pounded the M23 out of eastern Congo, where they had captured Goma city. Kabila’s government had accused Uganda and Rwanda of providing financial and logistical support to the rebels. The two countries denied the allegations.

Clashes

The UPDF Second Division spokesperson, Capt Arthur Timbaganya, said the clashes were near Ugandan-DR Congo border.