GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov 1 (AFP) -Fears mounted over the fate of tens of thousands of people fleeing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday as diplomatic efforts to prevent a humanitarian disaster gathered steam.
 |
| Refugees who had fled fighting between government soldiers and Renegade Congolese General Lauren Nkunda, walk back to their homes near Goma, October 31 |
With rebel forces surrounding this strategic eastern city, DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame agreed to an emergency summit amid allegations that their armies were aiding rival militias. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, his British counterpart David Miliband and Washington's top diplomat for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, were all due in Kinshasa and Goma before heading to Rwanda.
EU development commissioner Louis Michel, speaking in Kinshasa, said Friday that Kabila and Kagame had agreed to meet at a summit in Nairobi under the aegis of the United Nations and the African Union.
Michel said both leaders were clearly sincere about “opting for dialogue and putting an end to the reasons that are undermining the east” of the country -- the scene of protracted fighting between rebels and government forces. In Goma, tension remained high amid a fragile ceasefire as Tutsi rebel troops led by Laurent Nkunda laid siege at the doorsteps of the strategic eastern city.
Government forces abandoned Goma on Wednesday as the rebels advanced on the city, leaving just 850 United Nations peacekeepers between Nkunda's forces and Goma.
|
E-mail