United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
3 December 2008
MONUC discussed the security situation in Bunia in Ituri District with the new District Commissioner on Monday 1 December 2008. The head of MONUC's Ituri office, Olamide Adedeji, urged the new authorities in Ituri to engage in open discussions with the members of the militia group "Front Populaire pour la Justice au Congo" (FPJC).
Recently created in the volatile district of Ituri, the FPJC was due to negotiate with the Kinshasa-based Government on October last. The FPJC preconditioned their participation to the compliance of an "immediate cease fire" by the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC).
MONUC asked all the armed groups to comply with the ceasefire and to keep away from the displaced urban centres and concentration zones, to avoid creating unnecessary panic which will cause further population displacement.
"Two months after the FPJC militia has resumed activities in Irumu in southern Ituri, the security situation remains volatile. The FARDC is making every effort to keep the previously-occupied zones under control," said Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich, MONUC's military spokesperson.
Moreover, from 23 to 29 November last, the FARDC clashed with members of the Front de Résistance Patriotique de l'Ituri (FRPI), in a bid to drive them out of the villages of Janda, Averuma, Mataratara, Biarusi and Kpooma, situated 10-15 km from Bukiringi.
On 30 November last, MONUC's Blue Helmets provided decisive support to three FARDC companies of the 7th integrated brigade during the clashes in Khodeza, situated 15km southwest of Marabo and Bolenzabo, and 45km southwest of Ituri capital Bunia, to flush out the FRPI, Lieutenant Colonel Dietrich added.
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