By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo –   Armed forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have seized the eastern town of Mushake. According to General Dieudonne Kayembe, fifty of General Laurent’s Nkunda’s rebels were killed. General Nkunda and his remaining forces are rumored to have retreated to nearby mountains.

Presently, the 82nd brigade of the Congolese armed forces has control over Mushake, which will give the government a strategic advantage to monitor a key transportation road in the region.

The United States, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda have pledged support to the DR Congo army. These countries have also pledged not to “harbour negative forces.”

The United Nation’s peacekeeping mission in DR Congo has been providing logistical, and humanitarian support. On Tuesday, the UN claimed that as a last resort, they would provide “fire support” against the rebel forces.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary Rice visited the Ethiopian capital to get support from Great Lakes African leaders to diffuse the situation. According to Reuters, she was unable to obtain a major breakthrough.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Army Seizes DR Congo Rebel base  – 5 December 2007

Reuters – Rice pushes leaders for end to Congo conflict  – 5 December 2007

AFP – Congolese report rapes, abuse by Angolan soldiers: MSF  – 5 December 2007