MONUC “very worried” by Kasai clashes

The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) said on Wednesday it was “very worried” by reports of fighting in the Idumbe area of Kasai Occidental, between RCD-Goma and Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) forces on the one side and Congolese armed forces and allied SADC troops on the other. “If this news is confirmed, it would constitute a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement”, MONUC said in a statement received by IRIN. MONUC has already contacted the Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Lusaka “so that together they can verify the veracity of this information to take the necessary measures to avoid a deterioration of the situation”, the statement said. RCD-Goma on Wednesday said it had captured Idumbe and nearby Longakolo port after “weeks of provocations” by Kabila’s forces. Military sources told IRIN on Friday that conflict in this area would be particularly serious as it would threaten communications between Ilebo and Kananga, thereby also affecting Mbuji-Mbayi.