Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Thousands flee as violence intensifies

• At least three Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights killed in one day
• Attempts by armed group to recruit child solders

As fighting between the army and armed groups intensifies across the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amnesty International has urged all parties to take measures to protect the lives of civilians.

Thousands of civilians have fled North Kivu after violent clashes flared up over the weekend between the Congolese army – the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) – and soldiers who have deserted FARDC and are reported to be loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda.

At least three Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights were killed amid fighting between FARDC and FARDC deserters on Monday in the town of Ngungu in Masisi territory but the number of civilian casualties may well be higher, Amnesty International has warned.

Amnesty International’s Africa Deputy Programme Director Paule Rigaud said:

"The escalating violence in the DRC is deeply alarming and all parties to the conflict must ensure that civilians are not caught in the crossfire.

"All sides should abide by international humanitarian law, in particular the prohibitions of indiscriminate attacks and the recruitment of child soldiers.”
 
The clashes come amid reports the FARDC deserters have been attempting to recruit child soldiers.
At least four Children's rights and seven young adults from the towns of Ngungu and Kitchanga have sought protection with the UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO, claiming they were threatened by soldiers who wanted to recruit them.

The soldiers were allegedly former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a key armed group which used to operate in the area before being integrated into the FARDC in 2009.

Soldiers who have deserted the Congolese army have reportedly taken control of several strategic areas in Masisi territory, including around the town of Sake 25 km north east of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.

Early on Sunday they attacked an army unit in the town of Mweso. Six ex-CNDP soldiers were reportedly killed while a dozen government troops were injured.

On Saturday, the armed group Mayi Mayi Sheka also reportedly took control of parts of North Kivu’s Walikale territory including the villages of Luvungi, Mpofi, Bunyampuli and Kibua. The assault followed rumours of an alliance between the Mayi Mayi Sheka leader Ntabo Ntaberi, and Bosco Ntaganda, former commander of the CNDP integrated into the FARDC in 2009.

Several high ranking officials and hundreds of soldiers from the FARDC are believed to have joined Ntaganda’s troops.

Several thousands of civilians fled with some crossing the border into Rwanda while others took refuge in the towns of Sake and Goma.

Paule Rigaud:

"All sides must make the protection of civilians an utmost priority. The Congolese army has a duty to protect the civilian population in areas controlled by armed groups, while the UN’s operation MONUSCO must increase its forces in Masisi and Walikale territories."

Notes to the Editor

Bosco Ntaganda has served as a general in the national army since part of the CNDP was integrated into the DRC armed forces. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for recruiting and enlisting Children's rights under the age of 15 and using them to actively participate in hostilities in 2002-2003 in Ituri district, northeastern Congo. The alleged recruitments reportedly took place when was a commander of the Forces Patriotiques pour la Libération du Congo (FPLC) armed group. Defections from the Congolese army occurred in April following growing rumours around Ntaganda’s arrest.