DRC: RCD rebel forces facing mutiny again

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Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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DRC: RCD rebel forces facing mutiny again

NAIROBI, 25 June (IRIN) - Heavy fighting has broken out again in South Kivu Province, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between the leader of a mutiny among troops of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) and loyal forces of the Rwandan-backed rebel movement, news agencies reported.

The Rwandan News Agency reported an outbreak of fighting in the Hauts Plateaux region of South Kivu on 23 June, while RCD Secretary-General Azarias Ruberwa Manywa was touring the region to urge people to dissociate themselves from the leader of the mutineers, Capt Patrick Masunzu. AFP reported "violent clashes" around the Ngoma hills near Baraka, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, since 10 June, and RTNC radio reported heavy fighting around Minembwe on Thursday.

Someone close to Masunzu told AFP that during a lull in the fighting, which had occurred prior to this latest outbreak, Rwandan forces and the RCD rebels in the region had taken control of much of the Hauts Plateaux areas, while Masunzu, who is allied to some local pro-Kinshasa militias, had boosted his numbers with new recruits from local Banyamulenge (Congolese citizens of Tutsi origin). Another deserting RCD member, Aaron Nyamushebwa, had also joined Masunzu and hundreds of the latter's men, AFP reported.

The Banyamulenge constitute the oldest Tutsi community in the DRC. Although they are prominent in the RCD, and have provided many troops for the movement, there have been a number of clashes between the Banyamulenge and the RCD-Goma.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has vowed to crush Masunzu's forces, most of which are members of the Banyamulenge of South Kivu - a group whose protection is one of the principal reasons for Rwanda's military presence in the DRC. The RCD has also accused Masunzu of allying himself with members of Rwanda's Interahamwe militia - held responsible for the 1994 genocide.

The security chief of RCD-Goma, Bizima Karaha, has described Masunzu's followers as "criminals and thugs", but Enoch Sebeniza Ruberangabo, a spokesman for the Congolese Tutsis in South Kivu, told IRIN in April that Masunzu had been the best protector of the Tutsis in South Kivu over the past three years. He added that Masunzu had become the victim of a defamation campaign after writing to RCD-Goma appealing for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and warning that it could add to the risk of extermination of the Tutsi community in the DRC.

Masunzu reportedly deserted RCD-Goma in January.

[ENDS]

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