Fighting escalated in North Kivu between insurgents under Gen. Laurent Nkunda and government troops with support from Mai Mai militia and FDLR elements. Government used helicopter gunship 4 September “killing 80”; MONUC airlifted government troops to conflict zone. Truce called 6 September following MONUC mediation; broken 24 September: President Joseph Kabila gave Nkunda troops 21-day ultimatum 21 September to disarm and accept integration without negotiation or exceptions. 15-17 September meeting of Tripartite Plus Joint Commission called for increased MONUC mandate against “negative elements” in east. MONUC report accused government forces of human rights abuses, denounced culture of impunity. Lake Albert clashes killed 6 after Ugandan soldiers reportedly fired on Congolese vessel 24 September: tensions high despite 8 September accord on joint oil exploration and troop withdrawal from region.

Month saw troop movements, increased clashes in Kivus; mysterious deaths in presidential circles. Senatorial delegation met insurgent Gen. Laurent Nkunda 17 August; government and MONUC sustained pressure on troops to integrate. Yet positions abandoned 24 August. FARDC mixed brigades suffered attacks 27, 28, 30 August. Troops from Kisangani, South Kivu and Ituri en route to North Kivu 29 August: reportedly under order to launch offensive against Nkunda. Army operations against Banyamulenge insurgents in South Kivu continued. Presidential security adviser Guillaume Samba Kaputo died 1 August; legal adviser Gaston Nawej Katok died 18 August. Opposition MLC president Jean Pierre-Bemba said would travel to Kinshasa before end of parliamentary recess 15 September – no formal consent from Kabila. DDR in Ituri gained momentum: former rebel leader of MRC Mathieu Ngundjolo integrated personal guard. UNSC 10 August extended arms embargo on DRC militias 6 months. FARDC soldiers clashed with Ugandan troops and oil company guards near Lake Albert 3 August; 1 British oil worker dead.

Risk of escalated conflict in east remained as military and munitions build-up continued in the Kivus. Government operations against insurgent Gen. Laurent Nkunda stalled due to logistical and financial problems. After high-level international delegations, including UN Security Council and EU Development Commissioner, President Kabila indicated 11 July he would exhaust peaceful options but demanded Nkunda leave DRC. Nkunda consolidated control over large areas of North Kivu, coercing communities to join his CNDP movement. Clashes between Banyamulenge insurgents and army in South Kivu mid-July likely to exacerbate situation in North Kivu. Parliament passed law granting opposition leader same status as minister of state. Opposition MLC president Jean-Pierre Bemba’s medical leave from Senate expired 31 July, with no agreement on how to secure his return to Kinshasa.

Prospect of escalated conflict heightened in east, although tension between opposition and government eased in Kinshasa. National Assembly passed law on rights and duties of political opposition 14 June. Senate extended opposition MLC leader (and Senator) Jean-Pierre Bemba’s leave of absence to end July. Eastern “mixage” of dissident general Laurent Nkunda’s troops with army units widely seen as failed as dissidents refused to integrate top command. President Joseph Kabila made major changes to security forces replacing some put in place by transition’s power-sharing agreement as well as officers accused of corruption - seen as preparation for new offensive against Nkunda. Army began sending weapons to Goma, Beni and Kisangani early June; reports also indicated shipments to local militia and Rwandan FDLR, while Rwanda allegedly had helped Nkunda recruit. Clashes between army and FDLR rebels continued. UN Security Council delegation called for diplomatic and political action to settle looming Kivus crisis. 2 soldiers arrested for killing journalist of UN-sponsored Radio Okapi in Bukavu 15 June.

Congolese armed forces FARDC fought Rwandan FDLR rebels in Kivu, killing 40. Reprisal attacks by rebels on civilian populations 26-27 May killed at least 22. Insurgent Gen. Laurent Nkunda threatened to pull his troops from army units leading to increased tensions in North Kivu. In Ituri 223 fighters of Peter Karim’s FNI militia joined disarmament program north west of Bunia. Independent candidate Kengo wa Dondo, former PM of Mobutu, elected President of Senate, beating President Kabila’s candidate.

Political deterioration continued after heavy March fighting as opposition Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) leader Jean-Pierre Bemba flew to Portugal 11 April with permission from senate for 60- day absence. Public prosecutor called on senate to lift Bemba’s immunity 12 April. MLC suspended participation in lower house of parliament 14 April due to intimidation and harassment including looting of MLC headquarters, homes of several MLC leaders. Opposition returned to parliament 25 April after President Joseph Kabila agreed to discuss concerns. Fighting between militias and army intensified in Kivus as Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) continued offensive against Rwandan FDLR and Rasta rebels, killing 22 near Uganda border 27 April. Rebel FNI leader Peter Karim handed himself in 7 April for integration into army as colonel along with 7 officers. UNSC extended MONUC mandate through 15 May allowing more time to discuss France’s draft resolution. Burundi, Rwanda, DRC and Uganda adopted joint military strategy 19 April to fight rebel groups in Great Lakes region, but DRC said no foreign forces to operate in its territory.

Violence erupted in Kinshasa as opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba rejected 15 March ultimatum to integrate guards into national army. Reports of up to 600 killed in ensuing clashes 22-23 March, in which Angolan troops reportedly bolstered Kabila’s forces. European diplomats condemned “premature use of force” before all paths of negotiation exhausted. Bemba, accused of treason, sought refuge at South African embassy and may leave for exile in Portugal. New government under PM Antoine Gizenga emphasised program to tackle corruption, increase transparency and reform security services. Security in east remained volatile. Local “mixage” integration process between dissident commander Laurent Nkunda and national army continued slowly. 5 integrated brigades now partially formed. Nkunda’s demands for high-ranking positions, amnesty and return of Tutsi refugees remain unmet. Operations launched by Nkunda’s troops against Rwandan FDLR rebels in North Kivu resulted in attacks against local population, killing 15. In Ituri, rebel leader Peter Karim sent 300 troops into integration camps. 4,000 remain in bush triggering MONUC threat to resume operations. Several Mai-Mai groups in North and South Kivu also agreed to join integration process.

Formation of new governing institutions marred by violent repression of demonstrations. Over 100 dead in clashes in Bas-Congo between security forces and members of Bundu Dia Kongo religious sect whose candidate lost to AMP in governor elections. New government named 5 February after months of wrangling over positions – all 60 members belong to President Kabila’s coalition. PM Gizenga presented new program to parliament 22 February highlighting clampdown on corruption and liberalisation of economy. Security in Kivus and Ituri remained precarious. Dissident General Laurent Nkunda’s troops began local integration with FARDC units into 5 new brigades to patrol North Kivu province; Nkunda threatened to stop process as he claims his political demands are not being met. Peter Karim’s FNI started disarmament process 28 February.

Insecurity continued in Ituri and North Kivu with hundreds fleeing to Uganda and Rwanda. Despite November 2006 ceasefire, Ituri rebel commander Peter Karim continued offensives against army around Fataki, north of Bunia. Government and renegade General Laurent Nkunda reached partial settlement on troop integration into army and sharing of command posts. Despite government proposal on terms of exile, including dropping war crimes charges, Nkunda stated preference to serve in FARDC alongside his reintegrated rebels. President Kabila’s Alliance of the Presidential Majority increased its hold on state institutions in both 19 January senatorial elections and 27 January elections for provincial governors’ seats - though elections marred by corruption complaints. DRC Ambassador to UN asked for renewal of MONUC’s mandate until new government is formed and able to re-negotiate. ICC confirmed forthcoming trial of former Ituri rebel leader of Union des Patriotes Congolais, Thomas Lubanga, on charges of training and using child soldiers between September 2002 and August 2003.

Joseph Kabila sworn in as President 6 December. Second-placed Jean-Pierre Bemba announced intention to lead opposition by running for Kinshasa senate seat. Third-placed Antoine Gizenga, head of PALU party, named PM by Kabila 30 December. Fighting continued in east between renegade General Laurent Nkunda and MONUC. UN reported 150 of Nkunda’s forces killed, up to 15,000 Congolese displaced to Uganda 5 December; further fighting reported 16 and 28 December. Chief of staff General Kisempia rejected Nkunda’s proposed conditional surrender on grounds it should be unconditional. Clashes between Front of Nationalists and Integrationalists and army 100 km north of Bunia began 23 December; 19 killed, 14 government soldiers kidnapped. MONUC reported progress with rebel disarmament and reintegration in Ituri and South Kivu.