Focus on Uganda's neighbors: Civilians in peril as fighting continues in east DRC

In our continuing Wednesday focus on northern Uganda's neighbors, we look today at developments in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A new report by Human Rights Watch, titled "Renewed Crisis in North Kivu," details crimes against civilians by Congolese army soldiers, troops of renegade general Laurent Nkunda, and combatants of a Rwandan opposition force called the Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). A shaky ceasefire between the Congolese army and Nkunda’s troops fell apart in late August and skirmishes between them have continued, despite the government’s announcement last week to extend an October 15 deadline for the dissident troops to join the national army. Today, the BBC reports that Nkunda will integrate 500 of his fighters as a gesture of good will. Nkunda has claimed that he is fighting to defend Congolese Tutsi, whom he claims will lack protection without his forces. The ensuing violence has involved not only killing and abduction, but also widespread rape and looting. Moreover, some 370,000 persons have been displaced since late 2006, adding to DRC's already intense humanitarian crisis.

Another report, by the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme, highlights that two Ugandan rebel groups - the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and National Movement for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) - have used this instability to maintain bases and exploit resources. Though with limited military capacity, these groups are believed to be attempting to establish new bases in western Uganda. The report also suggests that ADF/NALU rebels have made contacts with LRA rebels based in Garamba Park in northeastern DRC. There had been rumors of such meetings, but we were unable to confirm them. This just shows how continued instability in eastern DRC has real implications for sustainable peacebuilding in northern Uganda and the whole of Uganda.