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The M23, a rebellion claiming to represent the
interests of ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo, is staging its
largest offensive since a 2012-2013 insurrection that captured
vast swathes of the countryside.
There has been heavy fighting as near as 20 km (12 miles) to
eastern Congo's main city of Goma, and the rebels briefly
captured the army's largest base in the area.
Of the 72,000 who have fled, about 7,000 reportedly crossed into
neighbouring Uganda, the U.N. Refugee Agency said in a
statement. Others have headed to Goma or taken shelter in sites
built to house people fleeing a volcanic eruption last year.
Eastern Congo has experienced near constant conflict since 1996,
when Rwanda and other neighbouring states invaded in pursuit of
Hutu militiamen who had participated in the 1994 Rwandan
genocide.
Congo has 5.6 million internally displaced persons, the most in
Africa, according to U.N. figures. There are at least 1.9
million in North Kivu, the province where the current fighting
is taking place.
(Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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