Connect to share and comment

UN reaches downed helicopter in DR Congo after four days

March 12, 2013 13:46
Rescuers took four days to reach the wreckage of a UN helicopter that crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and finally found the bodies of the four Russian crew on Tuesday, the UN said. The cargo helicopter crashed on Saturday but bad weather stopped the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, from getting to the wreckage about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Bukavu in South Kivu province, UN officials said. "The wreck of the helicopter was spotted on Sunday, but bad weather and difficulties in access slowed down the rescue operation," said a MONUSCO statement.

S.Africa, Angola and DR Congo leaders back peace deal

March 12, 2013 13:17
The presidents of Angola, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday threw their weight behind a plan to bring peace to DR Congo's troubled North Kivu. Leaders of the three southern African nations backed a plan signed by 11 states last month that opened the way for an "intervention brigade" of 2,500 troops. "We do not claim a new initiative for peace in the DRC," said Jose Eduardo dos Santos, alongside his counterparts after a meeting in the Angolan capital.

Thousands flee fighting in DR Congo: UN

March 12, 2013 13:03
Around 12,000 people have fled recent fighting between rival factions of the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday, as a local doctor warned of "methodic" rape in the troubled country. "We estimate that around 4,000 households, or around 12,000 people, have been displaced in the zone of Rutshuru" in North-Kivu province, Simplice Kpanji of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kinshasa told AFP.

UN's Ban wants Ireland's Robinson for key Africa post -sources

March 11, 2013 23:00
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Reuters) - The former President of Ireland Mary Robinson is the top candidate for the post of U.N. special envoy to Africa's Great Lakes region, where she would help implement a peace deal to end the conflict in eastern Congo, U.N. sources said on Monday. "She is the front-runner and is very likely to get the job, but it's not a done deal yet," a U.N. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

U.N. says helicopter crashes in Congo with four aboard

March 11, 2013 13:16
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Reuters) - A U.N. peacekeeping helicopter crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday with four crew aboard, but a rescue team has yet to reach the site due to bad weather and difficult terrain, the United Nations said on Monday. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, has a mandate to protect civilians and supports operations by the Congolese army. There are more than 17,000 troops in Congo - a country the size of Western Europe.

UPDATE 3-Congo keen to sign peace deal; rebel response uncertain

March 11, 2013 07:15
* Deal could be signed March 15, government says * Rebel leader says not seen document, more talks needed * Draft is reworking of 2009 agreement (Adds fresh fighting, Kabila due in Angola) By Jonny Hogg KINSHASA, March 11 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday it would give eastern rebels amnesty and positions in the army if they agree by the end of this week to lay down their arms, but a rebel leader said more talks were needed.

DR Congo vows to punish army rapists

March 9, 2013 13:46
The Democratic Republic of Congo's defence minister on Saturday vowed to investigate allegations that soldiers committed rape during recent fighting in the east of the country and vowed there would be no impunity. Alexandre Luba Ntambo said military inquiries were carried out in December and February following clashes pitting the army against the M23 rebel group that briefly seized the main eastern hub of Goma.

UN sets DR Congo deadline to act against 'rape' units

March 7, 2013 19:01
The United Nations has given the Democratic Republic of Congo a deadline in March to act against two army battalions accused of carrying out 126 rapes in an eastern town, a UN official said Thursday. The UN mission in DR Congo will stop working with the two battalions if action is not taken, the official told reporters. The DR Congo army relies heavily on UN peacekeepers for support in the battle with armed groups in the strife-torn east. The 126 rapes were carried out in the North Kivu province town of Minova as army troops fled an assault by M23 rebels in November.

UN threatens to stop working with Congo army units accused of rape

March 7, 2013 18:45
* United Nations says 126 women raped in eastern Congo town * Congo army units told to take action on rapes this month By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Reuters) - The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has threatened to stop supporting two Congolese army battalions unless soldiers accused of raping scores of women in an eastern town are prosecuted, a senior U.N. official said on Thursday.

5,000 take refuge at UN base in DRCongo town

March 7, 2013 15:00
Thousands of people remain fearful for their lives around a small UN base in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after days of deadly battles between the army and a militia group, the UN and aid groups said Thursday. Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the latest eruption of fighting in the region at the town of Kitchanga, according to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. The army was reported by the UN to have seized Kitchanga back from the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo, or APCLS, on Wednesday.
Syndicate content