Helicopter Air Raid in DRC Kills 50 Rebels

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a helicopter air raid killed 50 Congo rebels. Presently, clashes in DRC continue in the North Kiyu province.

Fighting has affected endangered mountain gorillas who reside close to the area of conflict.

Conservationists are outraged that nine gorillas have been killed this year, allegedly by General Nkunda's men.

Norbert Mushenzi of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) feels that the situation in the DRC has gotten so violent that "if anything happens to the mountain gorillas now, there is nothing we can do.” Mushenzi feels “powerless” by the conflict.

According to a UN refuge agency, more than 170,000 people have fled the DRC this year alone. 10,000 Congolese refugees have fled to neighboring Uganda to escape the conflict in eastern Congo between the army and renegade troops.

In recent days, more than 180 rebel fighters have died in the conflict.

Currently, the UN has sent 17,000 peacekeepers to DRC, which is the largest representation in the world. Since the fighting began, an extra 200 troops were sent in.

For more information, please see:

“Air raid kills 50 Congo Rebels.” 4 September 2007. BBC.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6978517.stm

“Congo Clashes Force Refugees into Uganda.” 4 September 2007. Reuters. http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL04197569.html

“Congo-Kinshasa: Thousands More Civilians Flee New Clashes in East, UN Reports.” 4 September 2007. Allafrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200709041269.html