M23 rebels vow to take Congo as soldiers defect
Source: Agencies |
November 22, 2012, Thursday
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THOUSANDS of Congolese soldiers and policemen defected to the M23 rebels yesterday, as rebel leaders vowed to take control of all Congo, including the capital Kinshasa.
"We are now going to Kinshasa. No one will divide this country," said Colonel Vianney Kazarama, the M23 spokesman, to a cheering crowd of thousands.
The rebels organized the rally at Goma's Stadium of Volcanoes after seizing control of the strategic city in eastern Congo on Tuesday.
Kazarama said the M23 rebels' next goal is Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province on the other side of Lake Kivu. He claimed the rebels already control the town of Sake, 27 kilometers from Goma on the road to Bukavu, and will soon take Minova, a lakeside town in South Kivu.
More than 2,100 soldiers and 700 police turned in their weapons, according to M23's Colonel Seraphin Mirindi. The former army troops and policemen piled up their arms and ammunition in the stadium.
In Bukavu people are already demonstrating against the Kinshasa government and in support of the rebels, said residents reached by phone.
The Congo soldiers remaining in the government army near Goma said they are not sure what to do.
"We are waiting for orders now. We don't know what we are supposed to do. It's hard. My comrades who defected in Goma, we're going to fight them," said a Congolese army major reached by phone in Kanyabayonga, 106 kilometers to the south, where the soldiers have regrouped. The major required anonymity because of the uncertain situation.
In neighboring Uganda, Congo President Joseph Kabila met with Rwanda President Paul Kagame, for emergency talks prompted by the fall of Goma and the progress of the M23 rebels. Rwanda is blamed for backing the M23 by Congo and by the UN.
The talks between Kabila and Kagame are being mediated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to a top Ugandan diplomat with knowledge of the talks, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to give information.
Kabila may be compelled to enter into direct negotiations with M23 rebels, said the diplomat. Kabila had previously rejected talks with the M23, but that was before they seized Goma.
"The time has come for Congo either to talk or fight (the rebels). You can't do both," the diplomat said.
The UN accuses the M23 of recruiting child soldiers, summary executions and rape, according to an report to be released tomorrow.
"We are now going to Kinshasa. No one will divide this country," said Colonel Vianney Kazarama, the M23 spokesman, to a cheering crowd of thousands.
The rebels organized the rally at Goma's Stadium of Volcanoes after seizing control of the strategic city in eastern Congo on Tuesday.
Kazarama said the M23 rebels' next goal is Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province on the other side of Lake Kivu. He claimed the rebels already control the town of Sake, 27 kilometers from Goma on the road to Bukavu, and will soon take Minova, a lakeside town in South Kivu.
More than 2,100 soldiers and 700 police turned in their weapons, according to M23's Colonel Seraphin Mirindi. The former army troops and policemen piled up their arms and ammunition in the stadium.
In Bukavu people are already demonstrating against the Kinshasa government and in support of the rebels, said residents reached by phone.
The Congo soldiers remaining in the government army near Goma said they are not sure what to do.
"We are waiting for orders now. We don't know what we are supposed to do. It's hard. My comrades who defected in Goma, we're going to fight them," said a Congolese army major reached by phone in Kanyabayonga, 106 kilometers to the south, where the soldiers have regrouped. The major required anonymity because of the uncertain situation.
In neighboring Uganda, Congo President Joseph Kabila met with Rwanda President Paul Kagame, for emergency talks prompted by the fall of Goma and the progress of the M23 rebels. Rwanda is blamed for backing the M23 by Congo and by the UN.
The talks between Kabila and Kagame are being mediated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to a top Ugandan diplomat with knowledge of the talks, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to give information.
Kabila may be compelled to enter into direct negotiations with M23 rebels, said the diplomat. Kabila had previously rejected talks with the M23, but that was before they seized Goma.
"The time has come for Congo either to talk or fight (the rebels). You can't do both," the diplomat said.
The UN accuses the M23 of recruiting child soldiers, summary executions and rape, according to an report to be released tomorrow.
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