Rebel, military fighting in Congo’s northeast kills 19

BENI, Congo – A Congo military spokesman says 14 rebels and five soldiers have been killed in fighting in the country’s northeast.

Mak Hazukay Mongba says the soldiers had been pursuing Allied Democratic Forces rebels in Mbau-Kamango after the fighters staged an attack about 15 kilometres (9 miles) outside Beni on Sunday, killing 11 civilians.

He says 10 other soldiers have been wounded in the confrontation that began Thursday with the rebels and is ongoing.

ADF rebels have killed more than 1,500 people and kidnapped more than 600 people in the Beni region since October 2014, according to Human Rights Watch.

Eastern Congo is home to a number of armed rebel groups.