DR Congo says military chief of Enyele rebels captured in Dongo

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the head of the military wing of Enyele rebels was captured on Wednesday by the people of Dongo, the hotspot of the deadly clash in recent months in the country's northwestern province of Equateur.

Communication Minister Lambert Mende said the rebel chief, identified only as Ondjani, had been operating with his men in Dongo in South-Ubangi district since late October.

The official hailed the exemplary contribution by the people of Dongo to the peace efforts of the security forces, asking all Congolese people to support the government in fight against challenges in Equateur province and the entire country.

The Enyele rebels launched a series of attacks following conflicts over the ownership of fishing ponds with another tribe.

The tribal clash-induced rebellion has led to the displacement of more than 100,000 people to the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. Hundreds of people, including dozens of police officers engaged in stopping the tribal clash, have been killed in the worst flare in the past year.

After the army took control of Dongo, Ondjani went into hiding in the jungle. They came out again on April 4 in a short-lived attack on the provincial capital Mbandaka.

Mende said Ondjani was handed over to the police after being captured by local people.

Source: Xinhua