MONUC military Spokeman Lieutenant Colonel Jean Paul Dietrich explained that although the FDLR have been dislodged from 70% of their original strongholds, isolated pockets of resistance still remain.

In this context, three new MONUC Mobile Operating Bases have been installed in Hombo-North, Otobora and in Ntoto in North Kivu, zones where the FDLR remain active.

Last week, the MONUC troops of the North Kivu Brigade escorted more than 1,000 civilians from the locality of Ishunga and neighboring villages towards Kibua in the territory of Walikale, and vice-versa, in order to allow civilians to attend the weekly market and return home in security.

On market days, civilians are especially vulnerable to attacks from armed groups, in particular the FDLR. Escort and market domination patrols are undertaken by MONUC forces on market days in numerous sensitive zones such as Pinga, Nyanzale, Bambu, Bukamba, Kirundu, Kalengera, Walikale-Centre and Masisi-Centre.

These escort patrols have been put in place in coordination with MONUC Joint Protection teams. In some cases, these patrols and escorts are undertaken in cooperation with the FARDC.

Regular joint MONUC-FARDC patrols, whether by vehicle or on foot, were expanded to Kiwanja, Nyamilima, Tongo and Rugari to dominate these remote zones and the main roads.

Meanwhile, training was organised by MONUC forces on the use of communications equipment and light weapons, notably the AK 47, for the benefit of local FARDC soldiers in MONUC’s Mobile Operational Basis in Kibua.

MONUC logistical support to the FARDC in the context of operation Kimia II

With regard to MONUC’s logistical support to operation Kimia II in the two Kivu provinces, MONUC has already provided 1,038 tons of food rations to 16,000 FARDC troops based in the two provinces. In addition, MONUC has provided 247,000 litres of fuel to the FARDC for their operations.