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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Two killed, 60 homes burned in fighting near Tshikapa

KINSHASA, 5 August 2003 (IRIN) - Fighting between a local militia and the national army on Saturday resulted in two deaths and some 60 homes being burned down in the village of Mutshima, about 50 km southeast of the town of Tshikapa in Kasai Occidental Province.

Most residents of the village reportedly fled the fighting between the army and local police on one hand and, on the other, a local militia known as the "Red Army", witnesses in the diamond-rich region said.

Saustaine Kambidi, the local coordinator of a national NGO called Journaliste en danger, told IRIN on Tuesday that the militia were armed with 12-bore shotguns and burned 57 homes, primarily in the local military camp.

"They pillaged and stole everything they could take," Kambidi said.

Kambidi and other residents of Tshikapa said the militia's action was a reprisal attack for an operation that the army and police had earlier launched against them.

"There were two dead among the militia following an exchange of fire between the two sides," Kambidi said.

Tshikapa Mayor Hubert Mbingho confirmed this, adding that the army and police were defending a mining concession against pillage.

"The well-known militia calling themselves the "Red Army" came as usual to steal diamond chippings and other materials in the mining concession, but they encountered resistance from soldiers that the owner of the concession had hired for security," Mbingho said.

Militias frequently attack mining concessions in the region. Mbingho said that the "Red Army" was made up of youths allied to a local traditional leader, named Mutshika.

"[The attack] was all about a family matter, because Chief Mutshika is related to the owner of the concession," Mbingho said.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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