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The DRC armed forces chief of staff, Major Faustin Munene, has said the towns of Mbuji-Mayi and Kabinda in Kasai Oriental province are under government control. Speaking over DRC television following an inspection tour of the province, he said the armed forces’ stance was one of “active defence”. “All the young people are completely mobilised to defend our country,” he added. “The firepower of our FAC [Forces armees congolaises] and our allies will be increased.”
The area has been the scene of fighting between the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) and government forces. Humanitarian sources returning from the area told IRIN today (Thursday) that contrary to the government’s claims, Kabinda appeared to be under rebel control and that the RCD was now well-placed to march on the diamond-rich town of Mbuji-Mayi.
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