Rebels kill 13 foreign peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo
Rebels kill 13 foreign peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo
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At least 13 soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been killed in clashes with M23 rebels, United Nations officials have said. The rebel group M23 has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, encircling the strategic city of Goma, which has a population of about two million people and is a regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts.
The M23 is mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army more than a decade ago. It's one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in the mineral-rich region, where a long-running conflict has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
The DRC has accused neighbouring Rwanda of fuelling the M23 rebellion, and has now severed diplomatic ties with it. Rwanda has denied the claims but last year admitted it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a build-up of Congolese forces near the border.
"Rwanda is trying to get in by all means, but we are holding firm," a Congolese military source told the Reuters news agency on Sunday. "It is war, there are losses everywhere... the population must remain calm, we are fighting," they added. The DRC has now recalled its diplomats from Rwanda and asked Rwandan authorities to cease diplomatic and consular activities in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.
