Democratic Republic of Congo

50,000 flee fighting in eastern Ituri region

Article published on the 2008-10-14 Latest update 2008-10-14 13:42 TU

AU head Jean Ping
(File Photo: Reuters)

Fighting has escalated in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri region between the Congolese army and Ugandan rebels, causing more than 50,000 people to flee the violence, the UN said Tuesday. Local authorities said that the bodies of 100 civilians were dumped in a river, while 80 children have been reported missing and as parents fear they have been recruited by the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army.

"Our teams report that thousands of displaced are trapped in the towns further inland, not daring to move for fear of fighting," said UN refugee agency spokesman Ron Redmond.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spoke to his European counterparts on Monday, warning that "huge massacres" could take place once again in the DR Congo.

"We must raise the alarm. The situation is becoming murderous and untenable again. Once more everything is in chaos," said Kouchner.

Last Friday, an African Union delegation visited Kinshasa on a fact-finding mission. AU hea Jean Ping met on Saturday with President Kabila, Monuc and diplomats. Ping reiterated the AU's commitment to resolving the conflict in the eastern part of the country.

"The African Union intends to become more involved in finding a solution to the crisis that is taking place now," said AU chief Jean Ping. The ministers taking part in the trip agreed that peace was the goal, but Ping said that there were different perceptions as to how to achieve it.

He added that the AU would be appointing a regional representative in Goma, the regional capital, describing the capital Kinshasa, where the UN peace-keeping mission Monuc is based, as "too far from the theatre of operations."