North Kivu: Rwandan Troops Reported to Nyiragongo Occupied by M23

One of the leaders of Joint Verification Mechanism border stated that it cannot verify these allegations at the request of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

(WASHINGTON DC) - Soldiers of the Rwandan army (Rwanda Defense Force) entered the DRC Wednesday, December 12, through two border crossings and Kasizi Kanyanja, north of Goma, Nyiragongo territory (North Kivu). This territory is currently occupied by the M23 rebels. The inhabitants of this entity expressed concern over the presence of Rwandan army in their territory.

According to local sources, the Rwandans were first noticed Tuesday, December 11th in the morning. They would come in a dozen trucks with ammunition and other effects of war from the border crossing Kasizi in Kibumba group, specify the same sources.

Wednesday, five other vehicles loaded with soldiers of the RDF arrived in the morning at Kibati, about 10km north of Goma, they added.

Forty men in military uniforms who were heavily armed also besieged the town of Mudja before withdrawing to an unknown destination, local sources added to Kibati.

Interviewed, one of the leaders of Joint Verification Mechanism border stated that it cannot verify these allegations at the request of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

For its part, civil society in North Kivu confirms this. Kavota Omar, spokesman for the organization said that citizen residents of Mudja Rusayo panicked, fled their homes to seek refuge in Goma and in other IDP camps around the city.

Source: Radiookapi.net (Translated from French)