By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Democratic of Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda began an offensive attack on the nation’s army by retaking several rebel controlled villages in the east. Two days ago, the rebels attacked Government positions in Nyanzale, a northern section of the province. Presently, there has been heavy fighting in Mushake, a rebel town located 40 kilometers from Goma. In response, the United Nations has promised to join on with the DRC army to provide fire support against the militant rebels.

U.N. Monuc spokesman, Kamal Saiki that the UN will now “provide fire support, including artillery and close air support” as a last resort.

Presently, there are 15,000 UN soldiers in DR Congo that are tasked with peace securing missions. The new UN orders would mean that these peacekeepers would have legal authority to fire at rebel forces. To avoid further armed conflict, the peacekeepers are urging illegal fighters to put down their arms and to cease fire.

Currently, The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to suspend the delivery of food aid to as many as 300,000 vulnerable people because of the militant take-over of villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fore more information, please see:

BBC – UN to join attack on Congo rebels – 4 December 2007

IRIN- DRC: Fighting interrupts food aid to 300,000 in the east – 4 December 2007 

All Africa.com  Congo-Kinshasa: UN Mission Calls On Illegal Fighters to Lay Down Their Arms  – 4 December 2007