[An Nahar] Violent festivities broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka
Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material...
between the army and separatist rebels, a local official said Tuesday, as one witness reported seeing several soldiers injured.
There was "heavy combat between the armed forces of the DR Congo (FARDC) and Mai Mai Bakata-Katanga rebels tonight," Kahozi Bin Malisawa told Agence La Belle France Presse.
The festivities began late Monday and continued until dawn on Tuesday in the village of Kiziba, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) south-east of the second city Lubumbashi, according to the official.
A military front man confirmed the festivities but declined to offer any more details about the conflict.
The Bakata-Katanga rebels are seeking independence for the unstable and mineral-rich province Katanga region.
One witness, who declined to be named, told AFP he saw "two FARDC jeeps carrying maimed soldiers to the military hospital" in Lubumbashi.
Bakata-Katanga secessionists regularly attack military targets.
In March, they clashed with government troops after marching in central Lubumbashi in broad daylight. Twenty-three people died in the incident.
Lubumbashi, along with the capital Kinshasa, was one of the cradles of violence in December that claimed more than 100 lives.