FDLR rebels
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I As part of its efforts to implement the June 27 Luanda peace framework mediated by the African Union and supported by the United States, Qatar, and Togo.
Known as the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), the security roadmap is supposed to be concurrently implemented by both Rwanda and DR Congo, and would lead to the neutralisation of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo FDLR.
It is also supposed to lead to Rwanda’s phased withdrawal of defensive military measures along the border.
The FDLR, whose ranks include remnants of militias responsible for Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, has been entrenched in eastern Congo for nearly three decades.
According to a statement issued by the DR Congo authorities, a copy of which Habari Daily has seen, the call marks the start of implementing the operational order adopted on Oct. 1 by the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
“This is a call to restore state authority and end the cycle of armed group activity being matted upon the people of the DRC by the FDLR. They need to comply with the directive or perish,” reads part of a statement issued by army spokesperson Gen. Sylvain Ekenge.
He urged the FDLR to immediately surrender to Congolese authorities or to the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, in line with the Washington agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali.
“All local communities should immediately disassociate themselves from the Rwandan rebels and encourage their voluntary surrender. Rebels refusing to comply would face forced disarmament as stipulated in the agreement,” reads part od the statement issued late last week.
Ekenge said that the move demonstrates Government’s resolve to bring back lasting peace in Eastern DRC, where years of conflict have displaced millions of people, forcing some of them to flee to neighbouring countries.
The prescence of the FDLR has long been cited by Rwanda as justification for its security operations near the border with the DRC.
However the Kinsasha administration has rubbished the claim, saying it masks Kigali’s alleged backing of the M23 rebellion, accusations both sides deny.
About the Author
