 A total of 149 Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) soldiers loyal to an ex-rebel leader have been disarmed after turning themselves in to a United Nations base, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC is in discussions with the government regarding the handover of the troops to government authorities for reintegration into the national army, UN spokesperson Michele Montas said.
| Bemba, who came in second in last year's presidential election, sought refuge inside the South African embassy, while his guard took flight. |
The soldiers, formerly loyal to ex-warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, began turning themselves in last month, after a two-day clash between Bemba's personal militia and security forces left at least 150 dead. At the height of the violence, Bemba, who came in second in last year's presidential election and has routinely been at odds with the government, sought refuge inside the South African embassy, while his guard took flight. Bemba once commanded a 20 000-strong rebel army, but his militia is now thought to number closer to around 1 000. |