Two separate attacks on Congolese army positions by the FDLR were recently repulsed, particularly June 30, as the Congolese celebrated Independence Day.

Confirming this yesterday, Lt. Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich, MONUC’s Chief Military Spokesperson noted that FDLR’s first attempt was on the eve of DRC’s Independence Day, while the other was on the real day – Tuesday.

According to Dietrich, late noon Monday, 30 to 40 joint FDLR-PARECO elements attempted an attack a FARDC (DRC army) company at Kaseghe, an area over 250 kilometers north of the eastern provincial capital - Goma, where the national celebrations were held.

DRC President Joseph Kabila presided over the DRC’s 49th Independence Day celebrations.

Dietrich says the FARDC engaged the attackers who later fled to the bush, but returned in a fairly bigger number.

"Between 70 and 80 FDLR/PARECO elements again attacked the same Unit. However, the Congolese Army retaliated quickly.

In the firefight, the FARDC killed five attackers, captured two combatants including a child soldier and five weapons,” says Dietrich.

Seven Congolese soldiers were reportedly injured and, as Dietrich says, MONUC troops later arrived and helped secure the village.

In a separate incident, again on Monday, FDLR elements reportedly attempted to create insecurity at Nyabiondo, another location roughly 20 kilometers North West of Masisi territory.

"Four rounds of rocket propelled grenades and one round of mortar landed in the centre of Nyabiondo. Reportedly, the rounds were fired from the North West direction of our (MONUC) Mobile Operating Base,” says Dietrich.

Even though Dietrich says that no civilian or FARDC casualties were reported, he points out that about 300 villagers stayed at the MONUC base that night.

Previous FDLR attacks claimed the lives of some FARDC soldiers including a Major and a Captain, but recent reports indicate that the Congolese army, aided by MONUC, is steadily gaining ground against the rebels.

A joint FARDC-MONUC operation, dubbed operation Kimia II is being conducted to purge the rebels.

Reports also indicate that FDLR were last month driven out of two of their strongholds – Layilayi and Ekingi, both in Bunyakiri sector of Kalehe territory in South Kivu province, with several captured and injured.

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