DR Congo: Senior army officer ambushed by rebels

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo

A senior army officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday survived a deadly ambush of his convoy by rebels, said an army official.

The convoy of the army commander in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Gen. Marcel Mbangu, was ambushed by suspected Ugandan ADF rebels along the Mbau-Kamango road, where over 20 civilians were killed nine days ago.

"One soldier was killed and several were injured. One of the jeeps in the escort was destroyed," said Capt. Mak Hazukay, the region’s army spokesman.

He said an exchange of gunfire with the rebels had lasted for about 30 minutes.

The ADF rebels -- originating in Uganda, Congo’s northeast neighbor -- have been attacking and killing civilians in eastern DRC for over 15 years.