Voice of America
03 Mar 2025, 01:20 GMT+10
The Ugandan army confirmed Sunday it has sent troops to another town in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo to fight local armed groups, amid fears a raging conflict could spiral into a wider war.
"Our troops have entered Mahagi town, and we are in control," Uganda's defense and military affairs spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told AFP Sunday.
The deployment was requested by the Congolese army following alleged massacres of civilians carried out by a militia known as the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), he said, without providing further details.
Mahagi is in Ituri province, which borders Uganda, where at least 51 people were killed on February 10 by armed men affiliated with CODECO, according to humanitarian and local sources.
CODECO claims it defends the interests of the Lendu community, mainly composed of farmers, against the Hema community, who are mainly herders.
Uganda already has thousands of troops in other parts of Ituri under an agreement with the Congolese government.
Last month, Uganda announced its troops had "taken control" of the provincial capital, Bunia.
Ituri is just north of the provinces of North and South Kivu, which at the end of January fell under the control of the anti-government M23 armed group, which the DRC says is backed by neighboring Rwanda. A claim that Kigali denies.
Analysts fear that Uganda and Rwanda's growing presence in eastern DRC could lead to a repeat of the so-called Second Congo War, which lasted from 1998 to 2003, involving many African countries and resulting in millions of deaths from violence, disease and famine.
Get a daily dose of Madagascar Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Madagascar Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images) Laurie Canter of England became the first player with LIV Golf ties past or present...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 3 (ANI): Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta believes there are 'good chances' that India can lift...
(Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images) Austin Riley and Matt Olson hit back-to-back home runs off Marcus Stroman and the host Atlanta...
Kinshasa, DRC — The Democratic Republic of Congo's army denied Sunday that 20 fighters linked to the Rwandan genocide had been captured...
Kampala — The Ugandan army confirmed Sunday it has sent troops to another town in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo to...
Cotonou, Benin — Clashes in Benin over the last week between armed groups and the military left 10 dead, including one soldier, as...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Nearly 87,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12 months ending September 2024, a 24 percent drop from the...
NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey: More than 45,000 U.S. dockworkers have approved a new six-year contract, securing higher wages and preventing...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A Missouri woman admitted to a scheme to cheat Elvis Presley's family out of millions and take control of Graceland,...
ANSEONG, South Korea: A tragic accident at a highway construction site in Anseong, South Korea, claimed the lives of at least four...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwanese authorities are probing a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea communications cable...
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: Utah may become the first state to ban fluoride in public water under a new bill that prevents cities from deciding...