NORTH KIVU: PRECARIOUS CALM HOLDS, CIVILIANS FLEEING.

MISNA

9 September 2008

“There is no fighting now, but the situation is very precarious and the people from the villages affected by the clashes are fleeing”, said the MONUC spokesman, Jean-Pierre Dietrich, to MISNA, describing the effects of the fighting between the rebels and the FARDC (regular army) of the past few days in North Kivu. Dietrich added that many of the villages have been looted and hundreds are fighting in the forest. Yesterday, the MONUC peacekeepers fired warning shots to discourage the CNDP rebels, led by former general Laurent Nkunda, toward Kikuku, 65 km. north of Goma. The population is worried that the violence has spread to Minova and Numbi, in the Kalehe territory added Dietrich. Meanwhile, the Congolese minister of defense, Denis Kalume, visiting Goma, asked for “an incisive intervention” of the peace mission, such that a ceasefire may be enforced obliging the parties to resume the “peace process”.

Editor's Note: The Rwandan army and Gen. Nkunda's contingent in Virunga are attacking on fronts in Bikenge, Bukima, Djomba, and fully control Bunagana. Gen. Nkunda has opened several fronts from Masisi Territory as well in order to spread out the FARDC forces and use the forests they know so well as cover. Fighting is occuring in near Kikuku, north of his Nyanzale. MONUC is in negotiations to prevent an advance on Kanyabayonga. Today, a column of CNDP soldiers has advanced up to Kirotshe (located just south of Sake) from Bweremana and Shasha after they attacked Numbi earlier this week. MONUC's South African mobile unit created a buffer zone between Kirotshe and Sake after aiding the FARDC in repelling the CNDP, but they still hold the road between Minova and Goma from near Kirotshe to Bweremana, which will help cut off FOCA FRF and FARDC reinforcements from South Kivu. Yesterday, the CNDP took Kibirizi and Tshaala without any fighting as the 7th FARDC Brigade was ordered by Col. Manga to pull out. They looted the place, killed some civilians they accused of spying for the CNDP, then left. This was very similar to how the CNDP took control of Nyanzale earlier in the week. There are reports the CNDP and RDF reinforcements are preparing to make a push toward Kanyabayonga from the southeast as a 2nd front. On the southern front, the FARDC is reportedly aided by the FRF and Mayi-Mayi Cobra. Many IDPs have fled to Minova, where MONUC has established a presence.