DR Congo’s North Kivu provincial Governor Julien Paluku, has at last cleansed his soul on the role of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe now re-branded under Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), have played in wreaking havoc in his country.

Paluku confirmed to this paper, Rwanda’s long standing position on the role these genocidal forces, are playing in the eastern DR Congo, since 1994, making them central to the resolution of the problems in the region.

Paluku explained how these notorious rebels, are wreaking havoc in his country, responsible for the rape of women and breaking up of families which has led to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

In his own words Paluku says, "Since 1994, they have been doing very bad things against the population, they have raped in Masisi, in Rutshuru and in Walikali.”

A position reiterated by Congolese President Joseph Kabisa’s, special envoy to the region, Seraphin Ngwej, who calls for pragmatism in dealing with the FDLR, saying that they are not Congolese and should therefore go back home to Rwanda.

Ngwej spoke after attending the sixth meeting on the Joint Monitoring Group for the implementation of last year’s Nairobi joint communiqué.

The senior government officials in their remarks show us a change of heart in continuing to harbour the excess baggage in the form of the FDLR. Surely, a big load has now been lifted from their backs, their anguishing country can find rest at last.

This signals hope for peace which had remained elusive up to a month ago for the people in the Eastern DR Congo. The consensus slowly building between the Congolese and the Rwandan governments must be supported by all progressive people of this world.

All the international envoys who in recent months hopped in and out of the Congo, surely have a credible plan in place being presented to them for support- the DRC and Rwanda joint action plan to uproot and disarm the FDLR.

Up till now there existed a lack of political will in dealing with the FDLR, most of whom are genocidal forces, with several agreements calling for their uprooting in the past being breached. The people of the Congo have had enough, one can only hope this is the best Christmas present for them.

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