Ugandan army deploys to town in northeast DR Congo amid fears of wider conflict
The Ugandan army confirmed Sunday it has sent troops to another town in 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 defence and military affairs spokesman Felix Kulayigye told French news agency AFP on 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 10 February 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, mainly herders.
Uganda already has thousands of troops in other parts of Ituri under an agreement with the Congolese government.
It also operates a joint mission to combat the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in strongholds near the Ugandan border.
Last month, Uganda announced its troops had "taken control" of Bunia, capital of Ituri.
Uganda's DRC mission under scrutiny amid claims of double dealing
Ituri is just north of the provinces of North and South Kivu, which at the end of January fell under the control of another anti-government group known as the M23, backed by neighbouring Rwanda.
Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:DRC president suggests unity government to respond to the crisis in the eastICC Prosecutor Karim Khan arrives in DRC amid escalating eastern conflictUN accuses M23 of committing 'summary executions' of children in DRC
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