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DRC’s army fought gun battles on Tuesday with a separatist militia just 30km from Lubumbashi, capital of the copper-rich Katanga Province, the provincial governor told Reuters. Although Katanga has been spared most of the rebellions that have simmered in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the last decade, the area, home to some of the world’s largest copper reserves, has seen sporadic violence.
Hundreds of rebels attacked the Katangan capital last year and then surrendered after battles with security forces.
Soon after, the UN peacekeeping mission said the situation could deteriorate.
Katanga governor Moise Katumbi told Reuters that clashes erupted overnight with fighters loyal to a militia leader called Kyungu Mutanga, also known as Gedeon.
“The army is hunting them and the fighting will continue until they are permanently driven away,” Katumbi said by telephone.
Katumbi said the fighting was focused around Kiziba, southeast of Lubumbashi, but did not give a toll from the clashes.
According to a leaked report by UN experts in Congo, Gedeon’s fighters are part of a loose network of armed groups known as Kata Katanga that are seeking secession for the province. The multi-national mining companies operating in Katanga include Freeport McMoRan and Glencore. – Reuters.
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