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FDLR, Wazalendo in military training sponsored by Tshisekedi
In his grand plan to
destabilize Rwanda and overthrow Rwanda's democratic government, Congolese
President Felix Tshisekedi is sponsoring FDLR and Wazalendo militia in joint
military training in Kinyana, in Masisi Terriory, North Kivu Province, in the
east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
FDLR is a Rwandan terrorist
group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the
Tutsi in Rwanda who fled to eastern DRC, then Zaire, after their genocidal
regime had been overthrown by the current Rwandan government. For the past
three decades, various Congolese governments have accommodated and shielded
them.
Sources say that since
December 2023, over 100 commanders and combatants from Wazalendo and FDLR, have
been trained. The FDLR’s Deputy Commander Maj. Gen Uzabakiriho Cyprien
concluded the training on March 19.
For Tshisekedi, the training
will reinforce FDLR capability of executing terror attacks on the territory of
neighboring Rwanda, a country that Tshisekedi accuses of backing M23 rebels.
Kigali has repeatedly denied this allegation.
Tshisekedi has been harboring
FDLR, and he has publicly declared to support every negative forces against the
current Rwandan government, in what he calls “supporting regime change in
Kigali”.
“It’s the [DRC] government
[troops] that would always provide us with ammunition. They also gave us
uniforms and boots,” an FDLR fighter told Human Rights Watch in October 2022.
The FDLR has been
strengthening its relations with Congolese armed groups and the Congolese national
army, FARDC, in their strongholds because the terrorist group already lost its
bases around Masisi, Rutshuru, and Walikale territories after heavy clashes
between Congolese army coalition and M23 rebels.
From March 19, FDLR fighters
have been supporting the Nyatura armed group in attacks against M23 at Kagundu,
to prevent the rebel group from progressing to FDLR headquarters in Kinyana, in
Masisi Territory.
FDLR extended its positions to
Mpati, Nyange, and Kilumbu to stop M23 from moving to Kinyana.
Following the FARDC defeat in
Nyanzale, Kibirizi, Rwindi, and Kilima, FDLR advanced units based in Rutshuru,
Nyamuragira, and Nyiragongo territories were ordered to change their positions,
to avoid surprise attacks by M23.
During presidential campaigns
in late 2023, Tshisekedi said he would wage war against Rwanda.
With Tshisekedi sponsoring the
training of FDLR, the region may experience a heavy security crisis soon or
later.
Rwanda and the United Nations
have on different occasions called on Kinshasa to cease collaboration with
FDLR, but successive Congolese governments turned a deaf ear.
As things look, lately, the
security situation may worsen before it gets better.
