By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NORTH KIVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – A United Nations source has revealed to the BBC that the Congolese Mai Mai militia and Hutu troops have formed the Front for the Liberation of North Kivu (‘FLNK”). The BBC has revealed that FLNK currently patrols with the army in eastern DRC to counter General Laurent Nkunda’s militia. Nevertheless, the United Nations and the Congolese army both deny coordinating tactical efforts with rebel groups.

General Nkunda is currently backing DR Congo’s Tutsis population. He claims that he is protecting Tutsis from Hutus who escaped Rwanda and entered into the DR Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Nkunda believes that Hutus in DRC have formed the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR). The Rwandan government denies supporting General Nkunda.

Eusebe Hounsokou, the representative of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said “While there is a slight reduction in tension in the province because the fighting has decreased, we are concerned that this may affect our access to the displaced.”

In Goma, the provincial capital, relief workers are preparing to accommodate at least 1,900 displaced families. The site’s capacity can hold 10,000 to 12,000 people.

In the Masisi district, more than 16,000 people are sheltering along the roads that connect the villages.

The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported nine suspected cases of cholera, with one death. The International Rescue Committee will “deploy operations in this area shortly”.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Dr Congo Hutu front ‘helps’ army – 2 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: Troop Build-Up in North Kivu Worrying – UN Official – 2 October 2007

Gulf Times – UN refugee agency repeats warning on Congo violence – 30 September 2007