EngRegional
FDLR top commander's death shakes genocidal militia
Col Protogene Ruvugayimikore alias Ruhinda, Commander of FDLR's commando and intelligence unit commonly known as CRAP, is suspected to have been assassinated by Gen Pacific Ntawunguka alias Omega.
The
FDLR, an eastern DRC-based genocidal militia group formed in 2000 by remnants
of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, lost one
of its top commanders on December 2.
According
to sources, Col Protogene Ruvugayimikore alias Ruhinda, 53, Commander of the
genocidal militia's commando and intelligence unit commonly known as CRAP, was
killed at around 7pm in his tent in Sake, Masisi territory.
The
circumstances of his death are not yet clear but it is believed that he was
assassinated by other FDLR commanders. Some commanders of the genocidal
militia’s military wing, FOCA, suspect Gen Pacific Ntawunguka alias
Omega to be behind the assassination of Ruhinda.
His
body was rushed to Heal Africa hospital in Goma town, at around midnight on
December 2, under the fake names of Midende Zolo Gaby.
A man
called Iyakaremye Zirimabagabo Mosantu, a resident of Goma, was making
arrangements to have the body treated and released for burial. Ruhinda was
sanctioned by the EU in December 2022, for atrocities he committed in eastern
DRC.
The
atrocities include contributing to the armed conflict, instability and
insecurity in DRC, in particular through violence and serious human rights
abuses including attacks on civilians, killings, violence against children,
rape and other acts of sexual violence.
The
FDLR has been jointly conducting operations against M23 rebels as part of the Congolese army, FARDC, coalition comprising Wazalendo, eastern European
mercenaries and, recently, Burundian forces.
Observers
assess that the involvement of Burundi in North Kivu outside the EAC mandate
and Burundian Forces (FDNB) joining the coalition of FARDC and
FDLR-Wazalendo against M23 is a dangerous development in eastern DRC.
DRC
officials, notably North Kivu military governor Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami
recently held an operational meeting of FARDC-FDLR-Wazalendo and Burundi FDNB coalition, where Ruhinda represented FDLR. The meeting focused on the planning
of joint operations, providing war materiel and cash.
In
mid-November, Cirimwami, gave a $200,000 to the FDLR to boost their military
operations against the M23 rebels.
According
to sources, the money was supposed to be divided equally among all FDLR
commanders but that did not happen. This created wrangles in the militia’s top
command which may have caused the sudden conspiracies among them.
Ruhinda’s death raises more questions about the FDLR and the FARDC-Burundi FDNB-Wazalendo-European mercenaries coalition especially now that Kinshasa is determined to end the mandate of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
