Thousands homeless in DRC as rebels seize stronghold

KINSHASA – Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) clawed back control of a stronghold in the northeastern Ituri region from government forces in fierce fighting that drove 5 000 people from their homes, the United Nations mission here said on Wednesday.

Between 400 and 600 fighters of the Ituri Patriotic Resistance Force attacked their former stronghold of Tchei, some 80 kilometres southwest of the regional capital Bunia, the UN mission, known as MONUC, said. Around 30 soldiers of the DRC army (FARDC) were wounded between June 29 and July 2 while “dozens of militia members were killed in the fighting”, the military spokesman for the UN mission, Stephane Lescoffit, told a news conference here.The UN mission sent armoured vehicles and fighter helicopters which fired 33 rockets at the militias to halt their advance, he said, adding that two attack helicopters carried out further “light arms fire, without damage”.In the Tchei offensive, at least 5 000 civilians were driven from their homes and sought refuge in Bunia.MONUC deputy spokesman Jean-Tobie Okala said the number could reach 55 000 if the fighting continued.The UN force meanwhile was preparing for further violence.”MONUC troops are reinforcing their positions in order to be ready to support the FARDC in their actions against the militias,” Lescoffit said.A company of 150 South African UN troops was also stationed at Kagaba, around 20 kilometres from Tchei, he added.MONUC has told its workers not to travel in the area south of Bunia, where heavy arms fire was heard on Monday night.Militias have stepped up attacks on army forces loyal to the government since May in the war-torn region, where inter-ethnic clashes have left an estimated 60 000 people dead since 1999.More than 15 000 militia fighters laid down their arms in Ituri in 2005, but the UN mission says some 2 000 fighters continue to sow terror there, preventing 200 000 displaced villagers from returning home.- Nampa-AAround 30 soldiers of the DRC army (FARDC) were wounded between June 29 and July 2 while “dozens of militia members were killed in the fighting”, the military spokesman for the UN mission, Stephane Lescoffit, told a news conference here.The UN mission sent armoured vehicles and fighter helicopters which fired 33 rockets at the militias to halt their advance, he said, adding that two attack helicopters carried out further “light arms fire, without damage”.In the Tchei offensive, at least 5 000 civilians were driven from their homes and sought refuge in Bunia.MONUC deputy spokesman Jean-Tobie Okala said the number could reach 55 000 if the fighting continued.The UN force meanwhile was preparing for further violence.”MONUC troops are reinforcing their positions in order to be ready to support the FARDC in their actions against the militias,” Lescoffit said.A company of 150 South African UN troops was also stationed at Kagaba, around 20 kilometres from Tchei, he added.MONUC has told its workers not to travel in the area south of Bunia, where heavy arms fire was heard on Monday night.Militias have stepped up attacks on army forces loyal to the government since May in the war-torn region, where inter-ethnic clashes have left an estimated 60 000 people dead since 1999.More than 15 000 militia fighters laid down their arms in Ituri in 2005, but the UN mission says some 2 000 fighters continue to sow terror there, preventing 200 000 displaced villagers from returning home.- Nampa-A