News | Laurent Nkunda
| Sexual Brutality Accompanies War in Congo | |
VOA News - October 8, 2007 | |
The United Nations says the prevalence of sexual violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst in the world. Since fighting erupted in the region six weeks ago between rebels and the Congolese army, women in eastern Congo say sexual brutality has risen to new heights. | |
| Ceasefire Breaking Down: Deadly Combat in DRC | |
VOA News - October 8, 2007 | |
Renegade general Laurent Nkunda says his rebel forces are abandoning a U.N.-mediated ceasefire with the Congolese government. Congo's defense minister says the government wants to use dialogue to solve the crisis in eastern DRC, but rebel forces say they have been repeatedly attacked by army troops in recent days. | |
| Violence cuts off 150,000 people from aid - WFP | |
IRIN - October 8, 2007 | |
 | Chronic violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has cut 150,000 vulnerable people off from humanitarian aid, deepening an already severe crisis, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). |
| Thousands of youth risk forced recruitment into militia | |
IRIN - October 8, 2007 | |
 | "[The militia groups] are targeting schools," said Pernille Ironside, a protection officer in Goma with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). "We have had numerous reports of secondary schools and technical schools being targeted, and children generally over the age of 15 being at greatest risk of being recruited." |
| Thousands of refugees return home - UNHCR | |
IRIN - October 4, 2007 | |
 | At least 43,000 refugees returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between January and October, with another 310,000 still in neighbouring countries, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). |
| UN says No Evidence Army, Rebel Groups Ally in Eastern Congo | |
VOA News - October 3, 2007 | |
 | Conflicting reports are emerging from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo regarding an alleged alliance between Congo's army and outlaw Hutu and Mayi Mayi militias, aimed at purging a rebellion by dissident general Laurent Nkunda. |
| MONUC rejects claims of army link to militia groups | |
IRIN - October 3, 2007 | |
 | The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has no evidence that the Congolese army has joined forces with outlawed Hutu and Mayi-Mayi militia groups to purge a rebellion by dissident army commander, Gen Laurent Nkunda, a spokesman for MONUC said on 3 October. |
| Army calls on rebels to integrate | |
IRIN - September 29, 2007 | |
 | The Congolese army has launched an appeal for militias loyal to renegade army general Laurent Nkunda, as well as other combatants and armed groups in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to be integrated into the army or be demobilised. |
| Eastern Congo Still Waiting on Kabila to Deliver on Promise to Bring Peace to the Region | |
Congo News Agency - September 29, 2007 | |
 | Since Joseph Kabila's inauguration last December as the first democratically elected president since independence, there has been no improvement on the security front in the eastern provinces. Much to the dismay of the residents of North and South Kivu, who voted massively for Joseph Kabila, he has been unable to deliver on his election promise to bring lasting peace to the region. The security situation in eastern Congo has worsened since the elections and people are calling on the government to do more to stop the militias operating in the region. |
| Rare Gorilla Found Dead in Congo Sting | |
VOA News - September 26, 2007 | |
 | A female mountain gorilla has been found dead in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park, bringing the death toll of the rare animals to 10 so far this year, wildlife groups said Wednesday. |
