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Rwandan combatants accused of fresh attack in the east

[DRC] North Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli Ngayabaseka in his Goma office. (Place: Goma / Date: 14 July 2004). Olu Sarr/IRIN
North Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli.
    KINSHASA

    Two people died and 150 houses were looted on Friday in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) when combatants from a Rwandan militia based in the DRC and former Rwandan soldiers, known as ex-FAR, attacked the village of Sake, the governor of North Kivu Province, Eugene Serufuli, told IRIN on Monday.

    "We arrested two Hutu extremists and there is no doubt that these people are responsible for the other attacks constantly taking place in the area," Serufuli said.

    The Rwandan Hutu militia, known as "Interahamwe", have reportedly denied Serufuli's claim.

    A group of armed men attacked Sake from Thursday evening through Friday, looting homes. The attackers fled as soon as Congolese troops arrived.

    One of the assailants was killed; a Congolese soldier was also killed and another wounded, according to a spokeswoman of the UN Mission in the DRC, Jacqueline Chenard, quoting an army report.

    Serufuli said inquiries are ongoing on the possible complicity of some civilians.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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