DR Congo 'rape' Colonel 'Kifaru' Kulimushi surrenders

BBC News, 8 July 2011

DR Congo: Dreaming of Democracy 

• Justice but no peace
• Rape dilemma
• Can rainforests survive logging?
• 50 years of chaos

An army colonel accused of mass rape in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surrendered to the military.

The DR Congo conflict has become notorious
for the sexual abuse of women and girls

A military spokesman said Col Nyiragire "Kifaru" Kulimushi gave himself up with more than 150 of his fighters, who are also accused of mass rape.

Last month, about 100 women accused former rebels who had been integrated into the army of sexually abusing them in DR Congo's South Kivu province.

A UN envoy last year called DR Congo the "rape capital of the world".

The 16 years of unrest in eastern DR Congo have become notorious for the widespread sexual abuse of women and young girls.

Army spokesman Lt Col Vianney Kazarama told the BBC that Col Kifaru had surrendered after coming out of the bush in his eastern stronghold.

"There were 150 of them, with their weapons - including heavy weapons," he said.

Lt Col Kazarama said Col Kifaru and his men would stay at a military base, until the military and the UN officials in DR Congo conclude a joint investigations into the mass rape allegations.