|
RAPAPORT... M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) attacked an unarmed peacekeeping helicopter today, marking the second such incident in a week, according to the United Nations (UN). The latest attack occurred this morning when the helicopter came under direct fire from positions held by the M23 over Kibumba, Rutshuru, in the province of North Kivu. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) reported that no injuries or damage to helicopter resulted from the attack; nonetheless, the group's spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, strongly condemned the rebels' action. The UN Secretary-General’s special representative and head of MONUSCO, Martin Kobler, along with a special envoy leader, Mary Robinson, are currently in Kampala, Uganda to observe the talks between the DRC's government and the M23. MONUSCO believes that nothing should distract or disturb a successful outcome of the Kampala talks. One week ago today, an unarmed MONUSCO helicopter carrying out a reconnaissance mission came under direct fire from positions held by the M23 in the Rumangabo region. Kobler vowed at the time that MONUSCO air missions would proceed. “M23 rebels will not prevent us from using the Congolese air space. We shall continue doing all in our power to defend civilian populations including by using force if necessary,” he had stated. In the past year, clashes have continued sporadically across the diamond-rich DRC's east between the M23 and the army. Fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region that already includes 2.6 million internally displaced persons and 6.4 million in need of food and emergency aid, according to MONUSCO.
|