National Congress for the Defence of the People
The National Congress for the Defence of the People (French: Congrès national pour la défense du peuple, CNDP) is the rebel government established by Laurent Nkunda in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. CNDP is currently engaged the Kivu conflict, an armed conflict against the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In August 2007, the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that it was ending a seven-month offensive against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), prompting a sharp rebuke by the government of Rwanda. FDLR was the primary "anti-Rwanda" rebel group during the latter part of the Second Congo War. It continues to operate, mostly within the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is composed almost entirely of ethnic Hutus opposed to Tutsi rule and influence in the region. Prior to the August 2007 ceasfire, Gen. Laurent Nkunda had split from the government, taking Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsis in the DRC) soldiers from the former Rally for Congolese Democracy and assaulting FDLR positions, displacing a further 160,000 people.[1]
The area under Nkunda's control lies north of Lake Kivu in Nord-Kivu in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru, and continue to expand with every town captured by the CNDP. In this area, Nkunda:[2] has established his headquarters by building necessary infrastructure and developing institutions of order.
- ^ "Rwanda anger at Congo rebel move", BBC News, 15 August 2007
- ^ "For Tutsis of Eastern Congo, Protector, Exploiter or Both?" by Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post, August 6, 2007
For more information on CNDP please find their official website www.cndp-congo.org
