KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The Democratic Republic of Congo is calling for a neutral military force to step in to help address mounting security concerns, an official said.
Members of the M23 militia waged mutiny in DRC in April. The group is blamed for widespread abuses in the country since then. Elodie Martel, country director for Oxfam, described the atrocities committed by Congolese rebels as "appalling."
DRC Information Minister Lambert Mende said a neutral security force was under consideration by African leaders.
"We have succeeded in bringing the heads of state meeting in Kampala to decide to set up a committee of defense ministers of all 11 countries ... with an agenda to decide the neutral international force that would be deployed between (Uganda and Rwanda)," he told Voice of America.
More than 220,000 people were displaced by fighting in the country's North Kivu province during the past four months. Another 50,000 fled the country to neighboring Uganda and Rwanda, which is suspected of backing rebel forces.
Defense ministers from the region are to meet Wednesday in Ethiopia to consider steps to address DRC conflict.
