Joint military operation eliminates tens of Burundi rebels in DR Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi troops conducted an anti-insurgent operation in Congo's eastern region and "neutralised" about 40 Burundian rebels.

The enemy "suffered a heavy loss of men and equipment: 40 attackers neutralised (killed)," he said.
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The enemy "suffered a heavy loss of men and equipment: 40 attackers neutralised (killed)," he said.

Forty Burundian rebels have been killed in a joint offensive by the militaries of Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi in eastern DR Congo, a Congolese army spokesman has said.

The two armies "carried out a high-intensity offensive operation" against Burundian rebels of the National Liberation Forces (FNL), Lieutenant Marc Elongo-Kyondwa said in a statement on Sunday.

The enemy "suffered a heavy loss of men and equipment: 40 attackers neutralised (killed)," he said.

The two armies "dislodged" the FNL "from all the four hills overlooking the town of Nabombi," considered a command post of the FNL's self-proclaimed general Aloys Nzabampema, he added.

The Congolese army called on local people to cooperate with the regular forces and "young people to dissociate themselves from armed groups", the statement quoted Congolese General Major Ramazani Fundi, commander of operations in the southern part of the province, as saying.

The FNL is a branch of Agathon Rwasa's former rebel group, now the main political opposition in Burundi.

READ MORE: DR Congo insurgent uprising cuts off children from families and classrooms

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Raising insurgence

Since August, Burundian soldiers charged with fighting armed groups have been officially present in DR Congo's South Kivu region, as part of the Community of East African States (EAC) force.

In June, the EAC decided to set up a regional force, comprising the Kenyan and Ugandan armies alongside Congolese soldiers in North Kivu and Ituri, the South Sudanese army in Haut-Uele and Burundians in South Kivu.

Kinshasa, which accuses Rwanda of actively supporting M23 rebels in North Kivu, has refused to allow Kigali to take part in the force.

For nearly 30 years, the east of the DRC has been plagued by violent armed groups, some local, others made up of militiamen from neighbouring countries.

READ MORE: Protests against UN mission turn deadly in DR Congo city

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