Democratic Republic of the Congo: Dozens of rebels lay down weapons in the east
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Dozens of militia fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo have laid down their weapons and surrendered, the first to do so since President Felix Tshisekedi announced martial law to tackle worsening security in two eastern provinces.
Around 140 men from various local armed groups sang and clapped as they handed themselves in to authorities during a ceremony in Congo’s North Kivu province on Monday. Around 70 weather-beaten weapons, mostly rifles, were also turned in.
Congo’s mineral-rich east has been convulsed with conflict since the official end to the country’s second civil war in 2003. More than 120 armed groups are now fighting for control of the region’s land and natural resources.
“Being in a rebellion means stealing, harassing the population and destroying the environment of the population,” said 28-year-old Jean-Paul Ndagije, who fought with the Nyatura rebel group.