Democratic Republic of Congo: UN and government troops have shelled M23 rebel positions
UN and Democratic Republic of Congo government troops have bombarded rebel positions in the country’s strife-torn eastern region of North-Kivu.
Three helicopters belonging to the United Nations DR Congo mission - MONUSCO - and two gunships of the DR Congo army (FARDC) were seen and explosions were heard on Thursday around the villages of Nkokwe and Bukima, where rebels from the M23 group are thought to have some positions.
Officials from the UN and the army confirmed attacks were underway, as did the mutineers.
“The FARDC are currently attacking our positions, but they don’t know where we are. There’s no problems,” a colonel from the mutiny told AFP.
Nkokwe and Bukima are about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of the North-Kivu capital Goma.