U.S. envoy heads to Africa to discuss DRC

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department said a political affairs secretary was headed to West Africa to address issues tied to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman heads Monday to the region for a weeklong visit to advance security in the region.

The United Nations estimates more than 260,000 people from the region have been displaced since the March 23 Movement rebelled against the government early this year. Rwanda is accused of backing rebel forces in DRC and M23 leader, Bosco Ntaganda, is suspected of conscripting child soldiers into the rebel group.

Sherman, during her visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is to discuss the conflict raging in the east of the country.

"In Rwanda, the undersecretary will meet with government officials and others to discuss our mutual security and development goals, bilaterally and regionally," the State Department said.

Six peacekeepers and an interpreter were wounded when they were attacked after returning from a patrol in North Kivu province in DRC in mid-October.