Not that any combat even took place to begin with.
FARDC troops instead plundered businesses in Rutshuru and the
neighboring hamlet of Kiwanja before fleeing--thus redefining the
military tactic of scorched earth.
Before taking over Rutshuru-centre, M23 had seized the nearby
localities of Kalengera, Kako et Rubare.
IDPs from the area are fleeing towards Butembo and Ishasha.
Local residents who couldn't flee the advancing M23 troops are now
flocking around MONUSCO compound in Kiwanja in the hope they'd
protected by the blue helmets.
This advance of M23 now put them at less than 30 miles from the
provincial capital of Goma.
(Page Address: http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/07/08/nord-kivu-les-rebelles-du-m23-prennent-le-controle-de-rutshuru-centre/)
Emerging from the extraordinary cabinet meeting that took place
yesterday in Kinshasa, Telecom Minister Tryphon Kin Kiey (photo above)
stated:
"The government decrees the mobilization of the entire Congolese
people to thwart this new attempt of destabilization of the country."
This statement brought universal snark from Kinois. They mocked it as
yet another empty slogan issued by an incompent government--especially
as there are no concrete measures to back up this outlandish claim of
"mobilization."
Well, we've seen the rout at Bunagana redefined as "tactical
withdrawal." And we've also witnessed today scorched earth implemented
by FARDC troops as "plunder and flee" at Rutshuru-centre.
Maybe "mobilization" just means bupkis to this "we-don't-have-a-clue"
government.
***
PHOTO CREDITS: Radio Okapi
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