Tribal clashes uproot thousands in Dr Congo

New York, 09 Nov-(ANA)-Clashes between two tribes in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have caused more than 16,000 civilians to flee their homes since last week, crossing into neighbouring Republic of Congo to find safety, the United Nations

refugee agency has reported.

Fighting first erupted in March between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes, whose

dispute is over farming and fishing rights in the village of Dongo, in DRC’s

Equateur province.

In that first round of clashes, over 200 houses were burned and more than 1,200

residents fled to Republic of Congo, according to the UN High Commissioner for

Refugees .

This time some 60 people were killed and about 40 seriously injured, and the

deadly clashes spread to surrounding villages, several of which were burned.

The agency said the 16,100 asylum-seekers from DRC, who are mainly Munzayas, are

staying in public buildings or with host communities across 11 villages alongside the Oubangui River, which they had to cross to reach the Republic of Congo. (ANA)

FA/ANA/09 November 2009----