Congolese Civilians once again under rebel attack. Civilians of Goma were forced to flee their homes as gun shots and bombs are thrown in the city as a sign from the rebels that they are taking over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23 revolt began as a mutiny by soldiers against low pay.
Rebels' spokesman Colonel Vianney Kazarama spoke to a crowd at a stadium in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday. The M23 rebels said they planned to take control of the entire DRC after they captured Goma on Tuesday while UN peacekeepers looked on. The UN Security Council has demanded that the rebels withdraw from Goma and disband.
Kazarama however promised a peaceful future by saying the following; "Our plan is to secure the people and their property," he told The Daily Telegraph, flanked by youthful insurgents carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles. "Today, the population can sleep well. Last night, we had a quiet night. We ask the people to come back to their homes because now it is peaceful." Any rebel guilty of theft, murder or rape would be punished, he promised.
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Credit: JAMES AKENA/REUTER |
Last night, however, a final report by UN experts charged with investigating the rebels made clear that neighbouring Rwanda was primarily responsible for commanding and supporting the M23 movement. Roger Meece, the UN's envoy to Congo, told the Security Council yesterday that the rebels had been carrying out "targeted summary executions" of their opponents during their advance.