Kinshasa, September 22, 2008 - Despite repeated calls for an immediate suspension of hostilities and the unconditional respect of the ceasefire by the signatories of the Goma Acts of Engagement, clashes took place, between the Armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple in the areas close to Sake, some 20 kilometers from Goma, capital of North Kivu province.

These clashes started at 3.30am this morning, on the initiative of the deployed FARDC in Sake, in direction of CNDP troops occupying certain conquered positions these last days on the hills overlooking the town.

Later in the morning, the FARDC moved towards Kimoka, a small town located in the valley, 2km east of Sake centre, where they installed a position a hundred metres behind the MONUC Blue helmets base in the buffer zone. The goal was to fire at the CNDP positions in the hills, and the Blue Helmets found themselves in the direct line of fire.

Despite repeated calls to the two parties to cease fire, these clashes continued for several hours. While the base was threatened directly, another base, also located east of Sake, in the hills was also under fire. It should be noted that clashes between these same forces, also took place this morning in Kirotshe, ten kilometers east of Sake.