EngRegional
Burundi-DRC plot to destabilize Rwanda exposed
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi (left) and his Burundian counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye (right) are plotting to destabilize Rwanda by supporting anti-Rwanda terrorist groups operating from eastern DRC.
For the past few months,
Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have enjoyed a thriving
relationship. Today, their relations have taken a new step; uniting and
supporting all anti-Rwanda government groups operating in the east of the DRC.
For decades, the Congolese
government has been working with the FDLR, a militia group formed by remnants
of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Now, the
DRC regime is extending its help to another negative Rwandan group, a splinter
group of FDLR called the National Liberation Forces (FLN). The latter group has
bases in Burundi, and eastern DRC.
The FLN is the military wing
of MRCD, a political entity founded by the US-based Paul Rusesabagina. The
group reportedly has more than 400 combatants, still active in South-Kivu
Province.
In mid-November 2023, Maj Gen
Peter Cirimwami, the Governor of North Kivu Province, held a meeting with Brig
Gen Antoine Hakizimana, alias Jeva, the commander of FLN. The two discussed the
possibility of collaboration between Kinshasa and FLN combatants. A source from
Gitega revealed to this website that, as discussed, the partnership is ongoing;
since March 2024.
The Burundian government has
accepted the DRC request to support the FNL militia. With this support, the
militia are emboldened in their wish to launch sporadic terror attacks in the
northern and southern provinces of Rwanda. The deal further entails that
Burundi’s support would consist of facilitating rebels' recruitment and
trainings, and offer a passage to combatants from DRC to join FLN in Kibira
forest.
It is reported that DRC
President Felix Tshisekedi took the decision to support the FLN after being
convinced by his Burundian counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye. Kinshasa was also
motivated by the fact that the FLN fought alongside the Wazalendo, in Rubaya,
when fighting the M23 rebels.
The Congolese government has
constantly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, an allegation Kigali
denied. For Kinshasa, any armed group willing to fight the M23 rebels and
attack Rwanda, will get unconditional support.
Gitega and Kinshasa know that
the FLN is a terror group, like the FDLR which they are all collaborating with. However, they do not
realize that these armed groups extend their violence to all the region, not
only in DRC.
It is clear that Tshisekedi
and Ndayishimiye do not wish for peace in the region. Their evil collaboration
is only fulfilling their wishes for chaos and violence in the region.
