Congolese military says rebels massacred 50 civilians in jap city By Reuters

KINSHASA (Reuters) -Democratic Republic of Congo’s armed forces on Thursday mentioned M23 rebels and their allies killed 50 civilians in a bloodbath within the jap city of Kishishe this week, which the M23 denied.

Congo’s military and the M23, a Tutsi-led militia, have been locked in combating for months within the nation’s restive east, with every accusing the opposite of initiating assaults.

“The M23 Motion rejects the baseless allegations made in opposition to it in Kishishe,” mentioned the group’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, in a press release.

“The M23 reminds the worldwide and nationwide group that it has by no means focused civilian populations,” he mentioned.

The United Nations and a U.S. diplomat additionally mentioned they’d details about civilian killings on Tuesday in Kishishe, North Kivu province, however didn’t give particulars. Each known as for an investigation.

“We’re deeply saddened by the bloodbath of civilians in Kishishe, which may represent a struggle crime,” Stephanie Miley, cost d’affaires for the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, mentioned on Twitter.

A spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-Basic mentioned the United Nations had acquired reviews of human rights abuses dedicated throughout clashes between the M23 and native militias in Kishishe, which included a excessive variety of civilian casualties.

Congo and U.N. specialists say neighbouring Rwanda helps the M23, which Rwanda has constantly denied. The 2 nations took half in talks final week in Angola aimed toward discovering options to the battle.

One in every of their agreements was that an East African Group (EAC) regional drive would intervene in opposition to the M23 if it didn’t cease combating and withdraw from its positions.

The EAC began sending troops into jap Congo earlier this 12 months to assist struggle varied armed teams. A South Sudan military spokesman on Thursday mentioned a battalion of 700 South Sudan troops can be despatched to affix the regional drive.

Earlier on Thursday, 1000’s of individuals took to the streets of Goma and Bukavu, the 2 important cities in Congo’s east, to protest the deterioration of the safety scenario.