National Congress for People's Defence soldier prepare to engage Mai-Mai militia in eastern Congo [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Tanzania's foreign ministry has said that 24 trucks driving in a caravan from the country have been abducted by the Mai-Mai militia group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mindi Kasiga, three Kenyans and 21 Tanzanians were all driving trucks that belonged to two Tanzania-registered companies when the Mai-Mai "self-defence" militia group kidnapped them.
"They were kidnapped by Mai-Mai fighters on June 29 in Lulimba, in South Kivu province, while they were on their way to the Namoya gold mine in Maniema province," Kasiga said.
"According to information coming from the Tanzanian embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Mai-Mai rebels attacked the convoy which was being escorted by soldiers from the Congolese army," she added.
The announcement came amid reports by the Congolese army that 12 people had been killed in fights between troops and the Mai-Mai Yakotumba fighters in South Kivu.
"Our forces are progressing towards the final barrier, the Misisi area," said Kasereka.
"The enemy has retreated behind the hills."
Tanzania has now reached out to the Congolese government consider presence of the kidnapped as they progress with their operations against Mai-Mai.