Congo: January 19, 2005

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The Rwandan government and NGO sources are reporting a new wave of refugees from the Congo. The refugees report new fighting in the Masisi area of the eastern Congo. A Rwandan government spokesman said that Mai-Mai militia were participating in the fighting. Uganda reports that 15,000 Congolese refugees have entered Ugandan territory. Many of them are camped on the shores of Lake Albert. The UN reported on January 17 that Mai-Mai militiamen were fighting with Rwandan-backed Congolese rebel units in the Ituri area. These reports are further evidence that the UN forces deployed in the eastern Congo lack the mobility and intelligence assets to be effective. Yes, the UN forces were originally deployed as "peace monitors," but the continual fighting forced the UN to intervene in the tribal and political disputes.