Democratic Republic Congo: Civilians killed as rebels clash with army

At least eight civilians have been killed during a firefight between the army and rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Gilbert Kambale, a civil society leader, told AFP news agency on Monday that rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked the town of Beni in North Kivu overnight, with eight civilians, a soldier, and an ADF fighter shot dead.

Mak Hazukay, the DRC army’s spokesman, said the civilians were killed in the crossfire between the army and the rebels.

“The armed forces of the DRC intercepted the ADF and in the exchanges of fire civilians and soldiers were killed,” Hazukay said.

The ADF was founded in Uganda in 1995 with the aim of toppling President Yoweri Museveni . It later moved to the DRC where it is one among dozens of armed groups seeking control over territory and mineral resources in the east of the country.

Read More- al Jazeera

Image courtesy of Reuters