UN mission sends military team to investigate fighting in eastern DR of Congo

Following reports of fighting between different factions of former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and weapons distribution to civilians in North Kivu province, the United Nations mission today said it sent a mainly military team to carry out a four-day investigation in the area.

The reports said fierce fighting had taken place in Kanyabayonga and the team was expected to stay there, 160 kilometres north of Goma, while a company of Indian peacekeepers started deploying in Rutshuru, a town halfway between Goma and Kanyabayonga, according to the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC).

Last Friday the International Committee Monitoring the Transition (CIAT) appealed for calm in Goma, the North Kivu capital, after violent inter-communal demonstrations. MONUC is a member of CIAT.

Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said unless it got $10 million for the DRC by the New Year, it would be forced to cut by 30 per cent the number of people in the country getting food assistance and to halve the portions given the remaining recipients.