United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
1 December 2008
Though no clash was reported Sunday 30 November 2008 in Masisi, MONUC is increasing its military presence there to prevent civilians being caught in the crossfire between belligerents.
The town of Masisi, situated about 50 kilometres west of Goma, has received 6,000 new internally displaced people following recent clashes between the Mai Mai and rebels from the CNDP (Congrès national pour la défense du peuple).
MONUC's military spokesman, Lieutenant-colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich said "MONUC is increasing its military presence in its Masisi-based Mission staffed by 120 troops."
"MONUC helicopters have flown over the positions of the warring parties. We have sent more patrol missions and we have deployed equipment should any action be required," he added.
On Thursday 27 November, Laurent Nkunda's rebel troops started edging towards Masisi in a move that resulted in clashes with Rwandan Hutu militias and Mai-Mai armed groups. The CNDP, quoted by AFP, said it "seeks not to extend its territory" but to carry out "police operations" to stop "the exactions" by the Hutu rebels and "cattle stealing" by the Mai-Mai.
Earlier such "security operations" by the CNDP along the Kiwanja-Ishasha road, had only worsened the humanitarian and security conditions of the civilian population.
On 25 November, MONUC unreservedly condemned the actions initiated by the CNDP and demanded that the group should unconditionally respect the cease-fire and avoid worsening further the suffering of the population.
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