At least 35 fighters of the Congolese Rally for Democracy/Liberation Movement (RCD-ML) died on Wednesday in clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Bunia, a leader of the movement said.
The fighting with “Ugandans” took place in the town centre, RCD-ML Secretary General Kolosso Sumahili told AFP, adding: “Thirty-five of our men were disarmed and then executed.”
Sumahili was unable to say how the fighting had started. The ethnic Hema RCD-ML fighters were holed up in the buildings of the town governor, he said.
On Tuesday the convoy of the military governor of Bunia, Jean-Pierre Mulondo, was attacked by heavily armed men loyal to the former RCD-ML leader Thomas Lubanga as it was driving through the town, said Lambert Konga Kanape of the Mai Mai militia.
“The clashes, which occurred at a time when lots of people were moving about the town, took residents by surprise,” said Konga Kanape, adding: “Many civilians were killed but the death toll has not yet been given.”
Bunia has long been the scene of violent clashes between the Lendu and Hema tribes and has also been the scene of fighting between different rebel factions backed by Uganda. – AFP