Robert Tukamuhweeba, the Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner told our reporter on Tuesday afternoon that more than 3,000 refugees have so far crossed to Buganana town council. Our reporter also saw many Congolese refugees occupying the verandahs of residents.
Thousands of Congolese refugees fleeing fresh fighting between the M23 rebels and government forces crossed into Kisoro district Tuesday afternoon. The Congolese army launched air strikes against the M23 rebels in Rutshuru territory,
North Kivu province.
At around midday, government troops used fighter jets to bombard the rebel positions in Tchanzu and Musungati hills, a few kilometers from the Uganda-DR Congo border forcing thousands of residents to flee into Kisoro district.
The M23 rebel spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, accused FARDC troops of bombarding densely populated areas using
fighter jets and attack helicopters. Kanyuka claims that the attack has claimed the lives of many civilians as well as caused massive displacement of others.
He claims that the bombardment is an indication that the DR Congo government does not want peace and still
maintains its option of war instead of dialogue. DR Congo government is yet to comment on the
bombardment of the rebel positions.
Robert Tukamuhweeba, the Kisoro Deputy Resident District
Commissioner told our reporter on Tuesday afternoon that more than 3,000
refugees have so far crossed to Buganana town council. Our reporter also saw many Congolese refugees occupying the verandahs of residents.
//Cue in: "The Number........
Cue out:.....Ugandan side,"//
Tukamuhebwa says that the fresh influx happens at a time when
Nyakabande holding center was closed. He however says that they will hold talks with
higher authorities to forge a way forward on how to handle the
refugees.
//Cue in: "Here.....
Cue out:...tricky time,"//
By the time of filing this story, heavy gunfire was still being heard
in Ngerenge village in the locality of Kalengera at the entrance to
Tongo. About two weeks ago, rebels
captured the Uganda-DR Congo border of Kitagoma commonly known as Busanza Rutshuru
and Kiwanja towns and Rumangabo military barracks.
The bombardment of the rebel positions comes at a time when
Kenyan troops are being deployed in North Kivu province under the East African
Community Integration to end insecurity. DR Congo and Rwandan officials held
talks in Angola last week aimed at ending the political impasse between the two countries.
Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 group, a charge Kigali has vehemently denied. The accusations have resulted in the dismissal of Vicent
Karega, the Rwandan ambassador from DR Congo.
