Rebels clash with Congolese soldiers in transit camp

By

Sylvain Muyali

Soliders from the Congolese army (FARDC) earlier this week clashed with Rwandan Hutu rebels (FDLR) held in the Kanyabayonga transit camp in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to local sources, the agitation was due to a misunderstanding between a delegation of the army’s DDR3 disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme from Goma and Rwandan ex-combatants.

The delegation wanted to take with it two ex-FDLR officers, for reasons that have not yet been revealed, rebel soldiers awaiting demobilisation reportedly attacked the members of the delegation, stabbing its leader, a Congolese army officer in the process.

The FARDC reportedly fired several shots in retaliation, seriously injuring three former combatants, one in critical condition.

This created panic, resulting in the transit camp being evacuated. Fifty fighters have found protection at the base of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC, (MONUSCO), while others have reportedly vanished into the country. It was also reported that ten dependant children were rescued and brought back to the base.

Approximately 280 ex-FDLR combatants and their dependents have been in this transit camp since late May, awaiting their transfer to the transit center in Kisangani Bahuma.

Sylvain Muyali

Sylvain Muyali is a Journalist, Photographer and Filmmaker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has reported previously for the Associated Press and his words and images can also be found at ‘Vivons Positivement‘