Offensive Launched Against Rwandan Rebels
GOMA, Congo (AP) - Government troops and U.N. peacekeepers launched a fresh military offensive Wednesday in Congo's restive east, targeting Rwandan Hutu rebels blamed for attacking civilians at home and in Congo, officials said.
Some 750 Congo troops and 100 U.N. soldiers hope to clear the Democratic Liberation Forces from their hilltop camps in North Kivu province in a five-day operation, said Maj. Ajay Dalal, a spokesman for the 17,000-strong U.N. force.
The U.N is supplying attack helicopters and armored vehicles for the campaign, he said.
The drive comes as Congo's first elections in decades draw near and as government and U.N. troops try to calm areas that remain violent after a 1998-2002 war. The U.N. said more offensives were planned.
"We will launch more operations as the elections approach to ensure safe elections," said Dalal.
The Rwandan Hutu rebels are blamed for years of attacks on people in eastern Congo. The rebels fled Rwanda following the 1994 genocide they're accused of helping arrange in that neighboring country.
Congo's elections, tentatively slated for late June, will be the country's first in four decades.
The vote is meant to bring lasting peace to a country ravaged by a 32-year dictatorship, rebellions and two wars that drew in armies from six countries and were blamed for nearly 4 million deaths, most from hunger or disease.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission, the world's largest, is in the country to aid Congo's poorly paid and ill-trained army secure the nation before the vote. Congo's army, cobbled together from former warring factions by President Joseph Kabila's transitional administration, has failed several times to flush out the well-armed and organized Rwandan rebels.
Wednesday's military operation comes days after the arrest in Germany of Ignace Murwanashyaka, leader of the estimated 10,000 Rwandan Hutu rebels.
Thousands of Rwandan rebels now in Congo are suspected of having participated in Rwanda's 100-day genocide, which left hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. Rwanda has requested Murwanashyaka's extradition.
Rwandan Hutu rebels are notorious for raiding villages from remote forest bases and preying on people in eastern Congo. Rwanda has invaded Congo twice, in 1996 and 1998, with the stated goal of routing the rebels.
Some 750 Congo troops and 100 U.N. soldiers hope to clear the Democratic Liberation Forces from their hilltop camps in North Kivu province in a five-day operation, said Maj. Ajay Dalal, a spokesman for the 17,000-strong U.N. force.
The U.N is supplying attack helicopters and armored vehicles for the campaign, he said.
The drive comes as Congo's first elections in decades draw near and as government and U.N. troops try to calm areas that remain violent after a 1998-2002 war. The U.N. said more offensives were planned.
"We will launch more operations as the elections approach to ensure safe elections," said Dalal.
The Rwandan Hutu rebels are blamed for years of attacks on people in eastern Congo. The rebels fled Rwanda following the 1994 genocide they're accused of helping arrange in that neighboring country.
Congo's elections, tentatively slated for late June, will be the country's first in four decades.
The vote is meant to bring lasting peace to a country ravaged by a 32-year dictatorship, rebellions and two wars that drew in armies from six countries and were blamed for nearly 4 million deaths, most from hunger or disease.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission, the world's largest, is in the country to aid Congo's poorly paid and ill-trained army secure the nation before the vote. Congo's army, cobbled together from former warring factions by President Joseph Kabila's transitional administration, has failed several times to flush out the well-armed and organized Rwandan rebels.
Wednesday's military operation comes days after the arrest in Germany of Ignace Murwanashyaka, leader of the estimated 10,000 Rwandan Hutu rebels.
Thousands of Rwandan rebels now in Congo are suspected of having participated in Rwanda's 100-day genocide, which left hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. Rwanda has requested Murwanashyaka's extradition.
Rwandan Hutu rebels are notorious for raiding villages from remote forest bases and preying on people in eastern Congo. Rwanda has invaded Congo twice, in 1996 and 1998, with the stated goal of routing the rebels.
posted by Marko at 4/13/2006 07:48:00 AM
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