Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday declared a curfew in the key eastern city of Goma, which is threatened by rebels camped on the outskirts.
The curfew, which will come into effect from 11pm local time to 5am, follows a spate of murders, rapes and lootings last week blamed on out-of-control elements of the government army.
”I confirm the establishment of a curfew throughout the city of Goma to better control the morning and nighttime movements of the population,” Julien Paluku, governor of the eastern Nord Kivu province, said.
Rebels led by renegade general Laurent Nkunda took several key areas in the country’s east before arriving at the threshold of Goma and declaring a ceasefire last week.
The city appeared to operate relatively normally on Monday, with stores open, in stark contrast to late last week, when few people remained on the streets.
Shops, schools and offices had been closed as residents feared out-of-control remnants of the Congolese army.
DRC rebels agreed on Thursday to open humanitarian corridors near Goma, but aid agencies had warned of a ”catastrophe” as terrified residents recounted tales of rape, looting and murder.
An Agence France-Presse reporter was last week shown the bodies of seven civilians, including two women. All were killed by Congolese soldiers on a looting binge, said landlord Jospeh Ndakola.
Rebel leader Nkunda has threatened to oust the government in Kinshasa unless it holds ”direct” talks on his demands.
Nkunda, who claims to be protecting the local Tutsi population, has said his troops were at the gates of Goma and had infiltrated Goma airport.
He said he had ordered his troops to halt their advance because he saw the suffering of people in Goma, and declared the ceasefire.
Diplomats have warned of a humanitarian disaster in the region due to the fighting, with much of the population having fled the conflict zone. — AFP
