Child soldiers in Rwanda and Congo

Rwanda and DR Congo in 'proxy war'


About 250,000 people are thought to have fled their homes to escape fighting in eastern DR Congo [AFP]


Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are engaged in a proxy war with each providing assistance to the other's enemies, a report by a United Nations Security Council panel has said.

The report, which was authored by five outside experts, says that Rwanda has been assisting Laurent Nkunda, a Tutsi rebel leader, in his fight against DR Congo government forces in the east of the country.

Meanwhile, DR Congo is providing help to ethnic Hutu rebels and other forces against Rwanda, the report says.

The panel also said it had evidence that armed groups from both sides of the conflict were using child soldiers and were engaged in illegal mineral trading.

Rwandan authorities have been "complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment and have sent officers and units" to help Nkunda, the report says.

In turn, Nkunda uses Rwanda as "a rear base for fundraising meetings and bank accounts," the report said.


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/12/200812137240698664.html