Eastern DRC: 130 Deaths in 24 Hours in Fighting

According to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), the Congolese rebels of the Movement of 23 March (M23) have strengthened their positions around the city of Goma in using "heavy artillery" and shielded.

Monday noon, shots were heard from the northern districts of Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu. Several Congolese army tanks fired at the positions of the M23, found a photographer from AFP. This reporter has also crossed a thousand refugees crowded into Goma, in a cloud of dust.

By late morning in Kinshasa, the government spokesman, Lambert Mende had assured the press that the army had "inflicted heavy losses" to the rebels. According to him, 120 rebels of the Movement of 23 March (M23) and 10 soldiers were killed.

But no record could be obtained from the M23 or from independent sources.

The new fighting began early Sunday afternoon at a dozen kilometers from Goma, in the villages and Mutaho Kibati.

The M23 is made up of former Congolese soldiers mutinied and found, according to the DRC and the UN support - in men and ammunition - from Ugandan and Rwandan governments. But these two neighboring countries deny any assistance M23.

Since Sunday, rebels and Congolese government rejected the initiative of the new fighting.

Mr. Mende assured that the Congolese rebels, "backed by Rwandan regular troops" had "attacked" the positions of the armed forces.

For its part, the M23 said he condemned "in the strongest terms the resumption of war initiated by the Congolese government," in a statement released at night.

Finally, Rwanda accused Monday night the DRC army and MONUSCO have "deliberately" bombed two villages Rwandan border. According to General Joseph Nzabamwita, spokesperson of the Rwandan army, two shells landed in villages and Kageshi Gasiza, no injuries, and it was of "an act of deliberate provocation."

Discussions in stalemate

The fighting involved Sunday near Goma most violent nine months.

In November 2012, the M23 Goma had occupied for ten days after the army quickly defeated yet supported by UN peacekeepers. The rebels withdrew from the town under pressure from countries in the region in exchange for the opening of negotiations with the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

But these discussions started in December in Kampala have not advanced much since they are denying the government expanded the political and social level.

The UN, which maintains 17,000 peacekeepers in the DRC, had been taken to the end of 2012 for its failure to protect the people of North Kivu. The United Nations has since imposed a framework agreement signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February: all countries of the region committed themselves not to support rebel movements operating in the eastern DRC.

Monday, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky issued a warning from New York: MONUSCO has "placed its troops on alert (She) is ready to take all necessary measures and that. includes the use of military force to protect civilians, "he said. "Any attempt by the M23 heading towards Goma will be considered a direct threat against civilians," he added.

The Security Council of the United Nations adopted a resolution in March creating a brigade of 3,000 men responsible intervention to neutralize armed groups in the region.

This brigade will consist of Tanzanian soldiers, South Africa and Malawi, slowly put in place and, according to Western sources, being fully operational until the end of August.

Moreover, in the same region of eastern DRC but more to the north, a Ugandan rebel offensive, last week, pushed thousands of Congolese to flee.

Ugandan rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF-NALU) Thursday attacked and briefly occupied the town Kamengo on the border. Congolese troops have dislodged and chased since.

Fleeing violence, 65,000 Congolese have sought refuge in Uganda, according to the Uganda Red Cross.