Rebel group clash with the pro-government Mai Mai

Laurent Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) rebel group clashed with the pro-government Mai Mai militia near Kiwanja, which is located approximately 45 mi/70 km north of the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma, on 4 November 2008. Nkunda accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government soldiers of firing on the rebels, thereby breaking the 29 October ceasefire and causing the rebels to pursue their offensive. Although reports indicated that the fighting near Kiwanja was fierce, the situation in Goma is still relatively calm. At least three camps for displaced people have already been raided and destroyed and humanitarian corridors have been shut off. U.N. peacekeepers were reportedly caught in the crossfire, but no casualties were reported. Nkunda has also threatened to advance on Kinshasa, the national capital, if President Joseph Kabila does not agree to talks; the CNDP had earlier called for direct talks with the government, but Kabila continues to reject bilateral talks with the rebel group. While it is unclear if the rebels are capable of making good on their threat to take the capital, observers believe that they are capable of taking Goma if full-scale civil war resumes