DR Congo: North Kivu - Testimonies from Goma, amid war and chaos
"It is the worst atmosphere in three
years. There is general chaos with reports of fighting, mass movements
of people fleeing and a dangerous confusion", said a MISNA source
contacted today in Goma, in describing the situation in the capital of
North Kivu, the strife-ridden eastern province of the Democratic Republic
of Congo for months theatre to an armed confrontation between the Congolese
army and rebels of the CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the People)
loyal to the pro-Rwandan renegade general Laurent Nkunda. "The situation
is extremely tense. Based on our information, heavy fighting is underway
since this morning around the town of Rutshuru. According to latest reports,
Nkunda's men are gaining grounds on the government troops and have already
entered the outskirts of the town. A MONUC base (United Nations mission
in DR-Congo) is also located in Kiwanza (a neighbourhood in the outskirts
of Rutshuru) and we don't know how they will react", said the MISNA
source, specifying that thousands of civilians are fleeing from the area,
divided in two different groups: "some are headed north, while others
are moving in direction of Goma". Reports received by MISNA confirm
that the CNDP rebels have divided in two columns: while one is combating
to seize control of Rutshuru (strategic territory and crossing toward the
border with Uganda and Rwanda) and the surrounding area, the other column
is moving south toward Goma. Fighting is in fact also underway in the Kikumba
area, around 20km north of Goma, along the road that takes to Rutshuru,
some 50km more to the north. "The rebels are advancing on the Congolese
troops that are retreating from many of their posts", added another
MISNA source, well-informed on the military developments on the ground,
who deems highly probable that foreign reinforcements are backing the CNDP,
incapable in clashes of the past months of gaining so much ground. "The
soldiers also retreated four of six tanks sent to the frontline, with some
army units actually breaking up. Since yesterday soldiers in uniform can
be seen fleeing on foot with their families, carrying pots and mattresses",
added the source. No official or unofficial death toll of the recent fighting
is so far available. "We can't count the living, never mind the dead",
said an aid worker who requested anonymity, however confirming that since
the weekend tens of thousands of people (maybe over 100,000) are fleeing
the violence. "It is impossible even to attempt an estimate. Many
of these civilians had already fled in the past weeks, and the fighting
is hindering movement and any verification of the numbers", said to
MISNA a source of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA), in commenting a radio statement made by North Kivu's governor,
speaking of "more than 2-million displaced in the province",
a number deemed excessive also by other aid sources indicating 1.3-million
people at most. Adding to the already complex situation, reports also emerged
in the past hours of the resignation of the Spanish General as Force Commander
of MONUC (UN Mission peacekeeping mission in DR-Congo). "MONUC is
paralysed, all meetings were cancelled today and their vehicles are not
circulating to avoid tension with the population that also today continues
protesting against the immobility of the peacekeepers and international
community", said a MISNA source in Goma. Tension flared further between
residents and MONUC after an armed response of the peacekeepers to break
up a demonstration yesterday in the capital of North Kivu against the local
mission offices. According to well-informed sources, the UN forces opened
fire to disperse a crowd throwing stones against the base, killing at least
two civilians (some speak of a third victim) and a Congolese soldier. Unconfirmed
reports also indicate the death of two UN peacekeepers: one hit in the
head by a stone and the other lynched by the angry mob.