afrol News, 9 October - Forces loyal to rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, are reported to have captured a major army base in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UN peacekeepers have reported.

According to reports, UN peacekeeping force Monuc said rebels seized weapons and supplies following an overnight attack at Rumangabo army camp. However, reports could not confirm details of casualties after heavy fighting.

Attack comes as DR Congo is accusing Rwanda of sending in troops across border in city of Goma, an accusation which Rwandan officials have denied, saying they had absolutely no reason to attack their neighbours.

A government official was quoted as saying DR Congo was merely shifting attention from what could be real problem, further saying Rwanda had not even deployed forces at border with DRC.

However, reports show that Rwanda has in past invaded its neighbour in 1990s, accussing Congolese government of backing Hutu rebels.

DR Congo, has come under intense rebel threat, especially with Nkunda and his forces refusing to be part of peace process, unless they are delisted on war crimes.

Last week rebel Ituri Patriotic Resistance Front (FRPI) in Ituri province, are said to have launched attacks against army, capturing two camps and advancing towards village of Aveba before they were repulsed by MONUC.

On 19 September, UN helicopters also opened fire on rebel National Congress for People’s Defence (CNDP) in North Kivu, forcing them to withdraw after they tried to take control of a town 60 kilometres from region’s main city, Goma.

Humanitarian and human rights organisations have also reported a sharp increase in recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups in North Kivu, in direct violation of an agreement signed at beginning of the year.

Hostilities have continued in eastern DRC despite stabilisation in much of the rest of the vast country, which was torn by years of civil war. DRC government has called for UN peacekeepers to be given a clear mandate and resources necessary to impose peace even by force if necessary.

“Confronted by the drama occurring in the east of the Congo, MONUC must be authorised to act, and can act in a convincing manner,” DRC's Permanent Representative Ileka Atoki recently told General Assembly’s annual general debate.

Fighting which resumed in August between rebel forces and the army, has displaced more than 100,000 people and made humanitarian work almost impossible.

Monuc head Alan Doss is reported to have described situation in east and especially in North Kivu province as "very serious".

"When these situations develop they often translate themselves into ethnic dimensions and that is very dangerous," he told BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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