The United Nations Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC)'s force continues reinforcing its presence in North Kivu, where fresh troops have just been deployed. New UN peacekeepers, including French-speaking units, have arrived in Goma, the provincial capital, in order to protect the civilian population.
MONUC combat helicopters based in Goma and other neighbouring provinces are on alert. They all are standing ready to respond to any attack threat.
Special forces are in place to monitor the DRC-Rwanda border area and other sensitive zones.
MONUC is thus trying to secure a durable ceasefire in an effort to bring all parties together around the dialogue table.
In the coming days, exercises involving the firing of illuminating rocket flares will take place in Goma at dusk near Don Bosco, in the Munigi neighbourhood, the MONUC force warns.
"These exercises must not frighten the population. They aim to ascertain that the peacekeepers' defensive weapons function well," the force explains.