Markets slowly reopening in Kisangani

With the ceasefire still holding, markets are slowly reopening in certain areas of Kisangani. According to the latest report by the humanitarian agencies’ task force, aid workers have been able to carry out their activities without any hindrance and have been able to move around the city freely. ICRC is looking at the problems of unexploded ordinance, which humanitarian workers said was causing great concern. The Rwandan Patriotic Army is still in control of the city centre, and occupies both airports of Simi-Simi and Bangboka. The Ugandan army is still in the Kapalata area, to where it withdrew on Saturday. Regarding population movements in Kisangani, the task force said these revolved around two major axes. According to OCHA, there are some 50,000 internally displaced people in the North Buta-Tshopo area, and a further 35,000 on the Bafwasende-Bangboka axis. Further assessment on the nature of the movements is required, as some people are moving back and forth from Kisangani (for example to the markets), the task force report noted. By Wednesday, the total number of displaced people at 13 sites within the city had reached 12,500. The OCHA-Kisangani representative has met officials of RTNC radio controlled by RCD-Goma with a view to broadcasting messages of reconciliation and pacification. Meanwhile, the MLC’s Radio Liberte has been approached regarding its “negative propaganda” which had led many people to flee from Kisangani, the task force report stated. It said such a contact was initiated to encourage a definite end to such activities.