:
Democratic
Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
April 30, 2007: The army killed nearly 30 members
of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu
militia) in a battle near the Ugandan border. The operation is part of the
on-going offensive against the FDLR in North Kivu.
April 26, 2007: The Movement for the Liberation of
Congo (MLC), the largest opposition
party, agreed to end its walkout of parliament. The MLC walked out to protest
the Congo government's failure to adequately provides for the security of its
leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba. Bemba is now in "unofficial" exile.
April 25, 2007: There is a major refugee movement
in eastern Congo. Approximately 100,000 refugees are fleeing fighting between
the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda (FDLR). The army has deployed several brigades in what it describes as a
"counter-offensive" against the Rwandan Hutu militia. The FDLR appears to be
retreating into the Virunga National
Park region. The large number of
refugees indicates the fighting
is covering a wide territory. The FDLR has also been accused of taking
hostages. Choosing between a radical militia and the Congolese Army is a tough
choice. Both tend to lack discipline in general and are particularly trigger
happy.
April 24, 2007: Uganda returned eight Congolese
Army deserters to the Congolese Army. During the last 12 months the Ugandan
military has handed over around 40 Congolese deserters. The Congolese deserters
had been serving with the Congolese Army's "B Brigade" in Rutsuru. Uganda and
the Congo have been taking steps to increase bilateral defense cooperation.
