Gregory Mthembu-Salter
Rwandan forces claimed victory against Uganda in Kisangani last Sunday after a week of heavy fighting.
Kisangani’s electricity and water supply has been crippled and residents lack sanitation and food. Thousands have been leaving the city on foot, carrying whatever possessions they can.
The latest fighting broke out despite an agreement, brokered in May, between Rwanda and Uganda for a complete United Nations- supervised withdrawal of both forces from the city, and despite a ceasefire brokered by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in the middle of the week.
Both Rwanda and Uganda accuse the other of starting the fighting and violating the withdrawal agreement.
Uganda strongly denies that its forces have been beaten. Before the latest fighting Uganda had insisted that it would not withdraw unilaterally from Kisangani, but on Sunday – with Rwanda in firm control of both airports and the city’s main bridge – it announced that it would do just that.
The UN observer mission, Monuc, now mans the main bridge. Rwanda says it will hand over the rest of the city to Monuc once the tiny UN force is in a position to assume control.
Meanwhile, aid organisations are taking advantage of the lull in the fighting to rush supplies to the beleaguered city.
Kisangani’s residents have been urged by Congolese President Laurent Desir Kabila to rise up against both Rwanda and Uganda, using whatever weapons they have at their disposal. There is little sign of this so far, but Congolese disgust and anger at the actions of both Rwanda and Uganda appear widespread.