Dernières infos – en

M23 fighters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo "must disarm", UN special envoy Mary Robinson said Monday on a visit to the restive city of Goma, where Congolese and UN forces are battling the rebels.

Goma — The United Nations envoy to the Great Lakes region says she will be direct with Kigali about evidence of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

KAMPALA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — Uganda has called an emergency summit of regional countries to discuss the deteriorating security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where UN peacekeepers have been killed in fighting.

KINSHASA, Congo — The leaders of three opposition parties in Congo say they will boycott upcoming talks this week that are aimed at national reconciliation.

GOMA — Residents of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are optimistic that the withdrawal of M23 rebels from positions outside the city could bring an end to fighting in the area. The situation is still volatile, as tensions with neighboring Rwanda remain high.

(Reuters) – Fighting erupted on Saturday between eastern Congolese rebels and the army, which said it would push on with an offensive to recapture all territory controlled by insurgents despite their call for a ceasefire.

The spokesman for the United Nations Stabilization Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), says the group intends to set up a security zone to prevent the M23 rebels from launching long-range attacks on North Kivu’s capital, Goma. The city has a population of over one million.

Hi all,
This is likely my last big piece from DRC for Reuters, as I have just left to set up shop in Turkey where Hedvig, my wife, has been posted.
It's been an extraordinary (nearly) three years in country, and unforgettable for very many reasons. I suppose the only sadness is that the news now is as gloomy as when I arrived, if not more so. The lack of real will from all sides to change the situation in eastern Congo is truly appalling, and a potent mix of mistrust, rapaciousness, entitlement and apathy looks likely to mean the situation will get worse before it gets better. How much worse, who knows. There are bright spots, as I see them: there is more international engagement, although whether enough pressure is being exerted in the right way is debatable. Some of the key drivers to the conflict are increasingly being seen for what they are, and there are tiny signs that the government of Matata Ponyo – however it may be serving the purposes of others – is making some small improvements that'll be hard to reverse.
All this is of little comfort to the people of eastern Congo and the country in general who suffer dreadful exactions and neglect at the hands of those who should have their best interests at heart.
I don't pretend to have really understood the vast complexities of DRC, and I suspect our reporting hasn't dramatically changed the way people think about the region. Nevertheless it's been a pleasure and an honour to report from there, and I hope you've found some interest in what I've written!
My successor, Peter Jones, will be a more an worthy replacement. Formerly working for the Guardian out of Kampala, he's already done some fantastic reporting from there, I've no doubt he'll continue. Will pass on the mailing list to him (with the exception of some friends and family unless they're very keen), I hope that'll work for folk.
Please do stay in touch, thanks to everyone and you may find yourself receiving stuff from Turkey once I'm up and running – I won't be offended if you ask to be removed from the mailing list though!
Very best wishes
Jonny

(Reuters) – Rwanda accused Congo on Thursday of shelling its territory and said it would not tolerate such "provocation", raising fears that violence in eastern Congo could erupt into a regional conflict.

The United Nations Security Council today reiterated its demand to M23 and all other rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to halt “all forms of violence and lay down their arms,” amid renewed fighting in the countries strife-torn eastern region.