konknaijagirl | On 01, Mar 2013

Less than a week after the Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement with 10 other African nations including Rwanda and Uganda, which were accused in a UN report last year of aiding M23 rebels, who swept through eastern Congo and captured the key city of Goma in November agreeing to hold off hostilities, a fresh wave of violence has descended in Kitchanga less than 100km from Goma.

Fresh fighting has been reported between Congolese Trops and the rebel group known as Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS).

Around 3,000 – 40000 civilians have sought refuge at a United nations base in Kithcanga following the eruption of the violence and it is unknown at present whether there are any casualties of the fighting.

The leadership struggle that has been ongoin has also created a looming threat to split the prominent M23 rebel group where there are internal issues between the two leaders of M23 Bosco Ntaganda and his rival leader Sultani Makenga with fears that this could lead to increased  violence. .

Wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Ntaganda, who is in hiding, is a former Congolese general who had very little to do with the group publicly whilst Makenga has been described as a cautious type of leader who wants to wait for discussions to conclude regarding a peace agreeement underway in Kampala, Uganda.

Credible reports that Ntaganda who has the loyalty of several top commanders and rebel troops within M23 is trying to persuade rebel group to take Goma again have come to light

Other reports quote Eduardo del Buey a spokesman for the UN mission in Congo said the fighting began last Wednesday and 10 civilians have been reported killed and about 50 people reported wounded including a UN peacekeeper in the clashes.

UN backed Radio Okapi reported in broadcasts that 30 houses were burned down during the new fights.

The M23 rebel group have publicly announced that their political leader Jean-Marie Runiga has been sacked for treason and at least 8 people are reported to have been killed in clashes between rival wings of the M23 in Rutshuru, 70km north of Goma.Earlier this week at least eight people have been killed in clashes in Rutshuru – about 70km north of Goma – between rival factions of the M23.

 

Sources – Al Jazeera, BBC News, Radio Okapi and The Independent.

Image Credits – PRT CNet, NBC News, Daily Mail and World News.