People Continue to Flee to Neighboring States After DRC Clashes

Map of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

People continue to flee to neighbor states after DRC clashes

DRC refugees are fleeing with their belongings after fighting between the Congolese military and rebels

Sun May 13, 2012 11:7PM GMT
presstv.ir

Many people continue to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries following heavy fighting between the Congolese Army and rebels in the east.

On Sunday, the fierce fighting continued in and around Virunga National Park, which is on the border with Rwanda and Uganda, AFP reported.

The rebels, who are mostly defectors from the Congolese Army, are led by General Jean Bosco Ntaganda. Known by his nom-de-guerre "Terminator," he is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague on war crimes charges, including recruiting child soldiers.

More than 10,000 Congolese residents have fled to Rwanda and Uganda over the past few days.

Led by Ntaganda, hundreds of former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a former anti-Kinshasa militia group, rebelled against the government last month, protesting against alleged mistreatment in the Armed Forces.

Congo has faced numerous setbacks over the past few decades, such as grinding poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and a war in the east that has dragged on for over a decade and left over 5.5 million people dead.