Crisis in DRC: rebel commander Nkunda arrested.

25 Jan, 2009

Renegade Congolese soldier Laurent Nkunda, commander of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), has been arrested in Rwanda following a joint operation involving Congolese and Rwandan forces. His capture comes as a surprise since Rwanda has long been accused of supporting the rebel leader (a claim which the country had always denied). It could represent an important turning point in the long-running conflict in the eastern North Kivu region although the full repercussions are still not clear.

Nkunda claimed to be fighting to protect Congo