DR Congo: North Kivu: increased toll, bombs dropped by M23-RDF cause 19 deaths and some 20 injuries in Mweso

News Update

Bombs dropped by M23 terrorists supported by the Rwandan army (RDF) killed 19 people on Thursday in Mweso, a city in North Kivu province, on Thursday 25 January. This assessment was still provisional by the Congolese army. In a statement signed by FARDC Commissioner Najike Kaiko Guillaume, FARDC spokesman in North Kivu, the army stated that it was since Wednesday that the M23-RDF terrorists launched several unsuccessful attacks on FARDC positions in Kanyangowe, Mweso Mudugudugu and Mushebere in Masisi territory. It was through these attacks, the communiqué states, that FARDC launched a counter-offensive that led to the capture of Mweso. “Having noticed the loss of control of the city of Mweso, the M23 terrorists, supported by the Rwandan army, in their flight, blindly dumped from the 120 mortar bombs oriented in the said city, killing 19 people and 27 wounded among innocent civilians,” the army said. For FARDC, this “terrorist” act is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and call on the international community to seize these “burrs” in order to draw all the necessary consequences. Clashes between the two protagonist camps continue. The army promises to end this “human barbarity” caused by these assailants. Azarias Mokonzi