U.N. troops reinforce Congolese army in regional capital

Gemma Parellada for CNN
1 minute read
Updated 6:41 AM EDT, Fri July 13, 2012
An M23 rebel soldier poses at a FARDC base in Rumangabo on July 9. Congolese M23 mutineers were pulled out of the key eastern town of Rutshuru, near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda a day after seizing it.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
An M23 rebel soldier poses at a FARDC base in Rumangabo on July 9. Congolese M23 mutineers were pulled out of the key eastern town of Rutshuru, near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda a day after seizing it.
Michele Sibiloni
Soldiers from the M23 movement walk in the town of Bunagana. The M23--a group of former Tutsi rebels who had been integrated in the regular army in 2009--has been battling Democratic Republic of Congo troops since May. The army is known as the FARDC.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Soldiers from the M23 movement walk in the town of Bunagana. The M23--a group of former Tutsi rebels who had been integrated in the regular army in 2009--has been battling Democratic Republic of Congo troops since May. The army is known as the FARDC.
Michele Sibiloni
A UN helicopter pulls out of the town of Bunagana on July 7. Bunagana was claimed by renegade soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 6, after fighting regular Congolese armed forces, police and the mutineers said.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
A UN helicopter pulls out of the town of Bunagana on July 7. Bunagana was claimed by renegade soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 6, after fighting regular Congolese armed forces, police and the mutineers said.
Michele Sibiloni
Colonel Sultani Makenga is the head of the M23 group that has seized several towns in the country's troubled eastern Nord-Kivu province. The M23 rebels launched a mutiny against the government early this year after breaking away from the army.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Colonel Sultani Makenga is the head of the M23 group that has seized several towns in the country's troubled eastern Nord-Kivu province. The M23 rebels launched a mutiny against the government early this year after breaking away from the army.
Michele Sibiloni
The M23 rebels' territorial seizures are helping to consolidate their gains over government forces and tightening their grip on a Uganda border crossing.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
The M23 rebels' territorial seizures are helping to consolidate their gains over government forces and tightening their grip on a Uganda border crossing.
Michele Sibiloni
Refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo make the 9.3 mile (15 km) trek to the Kisoro refugee camp.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo make the 9.3 mile (15 km) trek to the Kisoro refugee camp.
Michele Sibiloni
Refugees escape to a refugee camp in Kiwanja on July 8, a trek made more dangerous by the looting of the Congolese army.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Refugees escape to a refugee camp in Kiwanja on July 8, a trek made more dangerous by the looting of the Congolese army.
Michele Sibiloni
Refugees on the road to the Kiwanja refugee camp gather their children close.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Refugees on the road to the Kiwanja refugee camp gather their children close.
Michele Sibiloni
A UN peacekeepers travel along the road with refugees headed for the Kiwanja refugee camp.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
A UN peacekeepers travel along the road with refugees headed for the Kiwanja refugee camp.
Michele Sibiloni
Refugees arrive en masse at the Kiwanja refugee camp as UN peacekeepers look on.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Refugees arrive en masse at the Kiwanja refugee camp as UN peacekeepers look on.
Michele Sibiloni
A refugee carries a baby and a bed roll to the Kiwanja refugees camp.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
A refugee carries a baby and a bed roll to the Kiwanja refugees camp.
Michele Sibiloni
Refugees seeking to flee the FARDC carry what belongins they can on the long walk to refugee camps.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Refugees seeking to flee the FARDC carry what belongins they can on the long walk to refugee camps.
Michele Sibiloni
The toll of the journey is evident on the faces of the women and children traelling to the refugee camps.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
The toll of the journey is evident on the faces of the women and children traelling to the refugee camps.
Michele Sibiloni
Rebels of the M23 movement set up a machine gun in the seized town of Bunagana on July 8.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
Rebels of the M23 movement set up a machine gun in the seized town of Bunagana on July 8.
Michele Sibiloni
A girl shot by accident during a fight between Bunagana and Rutshuru undergoes treatment in Rutshuru hospital.
In Congo, war takes its toll —
A girl shot by accident during a fight between Bunagana and Rutshuru undergoes treatment in Rutshuru hospital.
Michele Sibiloni
Photos: In Congo, war takes its toll

Story highlights

U.N. spokesman: Extra troops reinforcing regional capital on border with Rwanda

M23 rebels have threatened to take over the town

One unit is Congolese elite battalion trained by U.S. troops

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo CNN  — 

The United Nations and Congolese army are sending additional soldiers to the troubled regional capital of Goma, a U.N. spokesman said Wednesday.

“Troops are being deployed at the town entrance, on the road that goes to Rutshuru,” said Alexander Essome, MONUSCO regional spokesperson.

MONUSCO, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, “has been reinforced with extra troops in the area,” Essome said.

Rutshuru, 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Goma, was taken by M23 rebels on July 1, but they retreated within days and the Congolese regular army moved back into the town Wednesday.

The Congolese army is dispatching a U.S. trained elite battalion to Goma, where most shops were closed Wednesday because of threats from M23 to take Goma.

The M23, linked to Laurent Nkunda’s CNDP rebel group, still controls the town of Bunagana.

Goma is in on the border with Rwanda on Lake Kivu.

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