Congolese Army Urges Deserters to Return Amid Rebel Advance

Reuters has it that the Congolese army on Thursday called on deserters to rejoin their units after rogue soldiers fired gunshots and looted parts of Lubero following their retreat from clashes with advancing Rwandan-backed rebels. The unrest highlights growing disarray within the military as the M23 rebel group continues its offensive, having seized two of eastern DRC’s largest cities and raising concerns of a broader conflict.