EngRegional
DRC increases collaboration with FDLR despite Luanda agreement to neutralize genocidal militia
FDLR genocidal militia, formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against The Tutsi in Rwanda.
The
Democratic Republic of Congo's government has continued to collaborate with the
FDLR genocidal militia despite agreeing on a plan to neutralize them during a
ministerial meeting in Angola on July 30.
The
FDLR is a UN-sanctioned terrorist group formed by remnants of the perpetrators
of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The mass murderers fled to
DRC, then Zaire, after massacring more than one million people in three months,
in 1994.
For
three decades, Congolese leaders, including current President Felix
Tshisekedi, have on many occasions, denied the existence of FDLR, alleging that
it is ‘a pretext’ used by Rwanda to ‘invade’ eastern DRC. The Congolese army,
FARDC, has incorporated the genocidal militia in its ranks, provided it with
support including ammunition and finance.
Despite
the denial, on July 30, foreign ministers from Angola, Rwanda and DRC met in
Luanda, and the Congolese government agreed to a plan to neutralize FDLR. The
meeting was preceded by another of intelligence experts from the three
countries, on August 7, in which the proposed plan for the neutralization of
the FDLR was reviewed.
However,
a few days after the Luanda meeting, the Congolese government was quick to
re-organize yet other successive meetings with FDLR representatives to
strengthen their collaboration. The Congolese's meetings with FDLR elements
were convened from August 10 to 14.
The
Great Lakes Eyes investigation desk learnt that on August 10, Brig Gen Danny
Yangba Tene, the advisor of the North Kivu Military Governor, along with other
military officials held an operational meeting with FDLR officials represented
by Lt Col Pierre Celestin Rurakabije alias Guillaume SAMBA, FDLR’s CRAP
commander.
Brig Gen Yangba instructed the FDLR elements to reinforce the Burundian army, SAMIDRC, Mercenaries, and Wazalendo troops before implementing their offensives against the M23 rebels.
Preceding the meeting, on August 14, Brig Gen Alain Nkuku, FARDC’s operations commander of the Sake-Masisi axis, once again met FDLR commanders Col Gustave Ndagijimana and Lt Col Pierre Celestin Rurakabije, the FDLR’s CRAP commander in the same areas.
This
time, held in Kimachine, in Mugunga, the meeting discussed the welfare of
troops operating in the areas. After the meeting, Brig Gen Nkulu distributed
250,000 Congolese francs and USD300, to each FDLR officer and Commander,
respectively.
On top of that, the FARDC official distributed 8 tons of food to the FDLR troops operating in Shovu, Nyakagina, Kaiwa, Karangara, and Mutaho areas, in Masisi territory.
Kinshasa
does not want to give any chance to Luanda agreements to succeed. On August 12,
Maj Gen Jérôme Chico Tshitambwe, the FARDC’s operations Commander in the Grand
Nord, visited his troops in Lubero territory, and held meetings with FDLR
commanders; Lt Col Elisa Serugendo alias Charite, the deputy commander of
FDLR’s CANAAN/JERICHO sub-sector and Lt Col Alphonse a.k.a Marius MWENEGITARE,
an FDLR’s Company Commander who are all part of the Congolese army commanding
forces.
The
developments show that Kinshasa is incapable of dismantling the FDLR, and all
agreements they signed in Luanda in the recent past will always be agreements
on paper that will never be put into action, just like all others that
Congolese authorities signed over the years.
Successive
Congolese governments have lacked the good will and commitment, to neutralize
FDLR. Worse still, Tshisekedi does not want to uproot the genocidal militia
simply because he believes that FDLR is a stronger fighting force than his
poorly managed, indiscipline, and corrupt army. Tshisekedi needs the genocidal
militia in his war against the M23 rebels.
With
unlimited sponsorship from Tshisekedi, the FDLR trains militiamen from armed
militia grouped under what is called the Wazalendo, who in return go on the
frontlines whenever the Congolese national army is involved in battles with M23
rebels. As such, FDLR and Wazalendo are key allies to the Congolese army.
The Congolese armed forces have no will to dismantle FDLR since they are their biggest allies.
Tshisekedi can not lose this support, hence pretending to neutralize the FDLR, to gain admiration from the international community, all the while holding secret meetings and providing support to them
But by
refusing to neutralize FDLR, Tshisekedi is not only betraying the region. He is
also betraying the Congolese population.
