Congo lawmakers extend martial law in troubled east for 15 days

New Times

03/06/2021 21:39

KINSHASA, June 3 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo
lawmakers voted on Thursday to extend martial law in the restive
east of the country for 15 days, a month after they replaced
civilian authorities with military administrations in North Kivu
and Ituri provinces.
    Violence has been endemic in Congo's mineral-rich eastern
regions since the official end of the civil war in 2003, but
insecurity has soared in the past two years.
    On May 6, the government imposed a state of siege to try to 
end the bloodshed.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2MO07Y Violent attacks have since
continued, but Justice Minister Rose Mutombo said numerous
militia fighters had surrendered and the army had seized control
of new areas.
    "Much remains to be done, and the recent volcanic eruption
of Nyiragongo, which occurred in the middle of a state of siege,
has forced the government to concentrate its efforts in dealing
with this natural disaster," Mutombo said.
    The eruption on May 22 sent rivers of lava streaming through
the outskirts of the city of Goma, killing at least 31 people
and making 20,000 homeless, according to U.N. figures.
    The state of siege also failed to prevent the slaughter of
at least 55 people by armed militiamen on Monday, potentially
the worst night of violence the area has seen in at least four
years.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2NI154
    

 (Reporting by Stanis Bujakera; Writing by Hereward Holland;
Editing by Peter Cooney)
 ((hereward.holland@thomsonreuters.com; +254 20 499 1232;
Reuters Messaging:
hereward.holland.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))