KINSHASA, Congo – The UN reports that the threat of violence from rebels are preventing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from returning home.  Arsene Kirhero of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said “[w]ith dissident groups hiding in the forest, displaced persons dare not return to their village.  At the same time they are being mistreated by the army in the very areas where they are seeking refuge.” 

Investigators have discovered that the army has been forcing civilians to work as porters for long distances and was collecting “taxes” at roadblocks on market day.    The army has said there is only some truth to the allegations. 

Fighting in DRC’s eastern Nord-Kivu province has driven some 375,000 people from their homes since last December due to continued fighting between government forces, renegade troops and rebels.  160,000 have been displaced in the last two months.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: Army Abuse Compounds IDPs’ Lot in Ituri – 9 November 2007

AFP – DR Congo displacement worst since civil war – 9 November 2007