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In the African state of Congo, anti-government rebels clashed with militiamen in taking control of the town of Kiwanja after two days of fighting, causing thousands to flee. The most recent violence has put a strain on an already tenuous October 29th cease-fire agreement between the rebel group National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) and the Congolese government. Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has stated that the most recent clashes with the Pareco Mai-Mai militia amounts to a breach of the cease-fire and has made public threats to attack the regional capital of Goma. The United Nations has been at work distributing food aid to more than 135,000 internally displaced persons in a number of camps surrounding the city. If the CNDP rebels launch an offensive on Goma, humanitarian workers fear a catastrophe would result. In advance of any ensuing violence, UN peacekeeping troops in the city have been given the order to fire on any armed fighters who attempt to enter. On Friday, the President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend a regional summit in Nairobi, Kenya aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in the country, which has led to millions killed.

GUEST: Maurice Carney, Executive director of Friends of the Congo, for more information, visit www.friendsofthecongo.org.