Fighting eases in DR Congo’s Goma as rebels gain ‘upper hand’

The United Nations announced on Wednesday that there is a relative peace in the eastern Congolian town of Gom, after a few days of intense struggles between the M23 rebels and the Congolian army supporting Rwanda.

“However, there is a continuous sporadic cracking, but the overall reduction of a fiery exchange in the city,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reporters. “Continuous conflicts were recorded in the surrounding areas, including in Sake, northwest of Gom.”

Dujarric said the bodies are on the streets, and the humanitarians report that at least 2,000 people have been injured with weapons and Srapnel since the fighting escalated.

In early January, the M23 rebels interrupted an agreement on the tribute, launching a large offensive in the east with a rich minerals with the support of the Rwanda Army. On Monday, the M23 said that he captured Goma, the capital of the N Rwanda denied charges to support the rebels.

Asked who controls the city, Dujarric said that the UN assessment was that the M23 rebels obviously have a “advantage”.

The UN has a peaceful mission in Eastern Congo known as Monusco, currently with about 10,000 soldiers and police who are tasked with protecting civilians and disarming fighters. It was in the process of removing its presence at the request of the Congolian government. In June, he completely left the neighboring South Kiva province. The rebels are said to be pushed toward their capital, noisy.

In and around Goma, Monusco strengthened his positions to opposing the rebels in advance who arranged the power of fast reactions, the Battalion of fast distribution, the spare battalion, the special forces and the artillery battery.

“The priority of the mission is currently remains the protection of its staff, property and many civilians who are prone to the UN premises,” Dujarric said. “Our pensioners also plan to send patrols to Gom today to evaluate the situation, spend re -re -application and route assessment.”

The UN says Goma Airport has remained closed, stopping the flow of humanitarian supplies. Most of the roads connecting Goma with the rest of the country are also closed. Water and electricity have been cut off from Sunday and internet access has been interrupted from Monday. Only mobile phones work.

In the capital of Kinshas, ​​the situation was also calm on Wednesday. Dujarric said the main roads were supposedly empty and the supermarkets were closed due to a high risk of robbery. On Tuesday, protesters attacked, robbed and burned some embassies, including those from Belgium, France and Rwanda. The United States announced on Tuesday to close their embassy until further notice. On Wednesday, he advised the Americans not to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN Security Council and Secretary General Antonio Guterres invited M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. They also called for the withdrawal of the Rwandan forces and the return to the mediation procedure at Luanda, supervised by President Angolan Joao Lourenco.

The East African community, which includes DRC and Rwanda among its eight members, was expected to hold an emergency summit on Wednesday night. Reuters reported that President Rwanda Paul Kagama will be attended, but it is not expected to participate in Congole President Felix Tshiseeked.

Before the last round of violence, the East DRC was congested in one of the largest and longest -running humanitarian crises in the world, with almost 6.5 million people displaced for the effort of armed groups to use control of valuable mineral deposits of the country.