DRC / UN BASE ATTACK

Rebels attack a U.N. peacekeepers' base in eastern Congo over the weekend. Eight assailants were killed when peacekeepers fired back. MONUSCO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:01
• Production Date: 26 October 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: U101026g

Description

STORY: DRC / UN BASE ATTACK
SOURCE: MONUSCO
TRT: 1.01
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 25 OCTOBER 2010, RWINDI, NOTH KIVU, DR CONGO

Shotlist

25 OCTOBER 2010, GOMA, DR CONGO

1. Aerial shot, Rwindi Base
2. Wide shot, armoured personnel carrier on patrol
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Ashok Mishra, Indian Army:
“About twenty-five armed group people, coming along this road, where I’m standing. Ant then they reached here. This is the direction where they tried to make a forced entry.”
4. Various shots, injured men on stretchers
5. Pan left, injured man
6. Close up, spent cartridges being picked up
7. Various shots, soldiers discharging guns
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Ashok Mishra, Indian Army:
“Our troops returned fire and following immediately we launched a patrol based on an armoured carrier basically with the aim to pursue the fleeing armed groups who were running in this general direction.”
9. Med shot, confiscated weapons

Storyline

Late Saturday evening (23 October), some 50 men armed with assault rifles and other weapons were repelled by soldiers from the Indian contingent from the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping base in Rwindi, some 140 kilometres north of Goma, the capital of the restive North Kivu province.

Despite repeated warnings from the UN blue helmets, the gunmen continued their advance on the base, opening fire on peacekeepers and trying to enter the site at several different points.

SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Ashok Mishra, Indian Army:
“About twenty-five armed group people, coming along this road, where I’m standing. Ant then they reached here. This is the direction where they tried to make a forced entry.”

Blue helmets from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) returned fire and the ensuing clash lasted nearly 20 minutes, ending with the attackers taking flight.

Eight of the perpetrators were killed in the incident, while two others were injured. Their identities have yet to be established.

SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Ashok Mishra, Indian Army:
“Our troops returned fire and following immediately we launched a patrol based on an armoured carrier basically with the aim to pursue the fleeing armed groups who were running in this general direction.”

Two assault rifles, hundreds of cartridges, three machetes, a grenade, explosives and other weapons were recovered after the incident.

The DRC army, known as FARDC, has since captured and detained several of those who took part in the attack. A joint investigation with Congolese authorities is under way to establish the identities and motives of the attackers, who, according to early indications, appear to be part of the Mai-Mai militia group.

MONUSCO welcomed yesterday’s announcement in Rwindi by North Kivu’s Military Prosecutor that he will initiate immediate judicial action against the perpetrators.