A latest report by a United Nations Group of Experts has revealed that the FDLR, a terrorist group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, controls part of DR Congo and currently involved in mass recruitment across the eastern part of the country. The report dated June 14, 2022 and submitted to the UN Security Council, a copy of which The New Times has seen, indicates that the FDLR also controls all businesses and operations that happen within the park on the DR Congo side. “FDLR remained active in Virunga National Park, launched a new recruitment drive and consolidated its cooperation with local armed groups,” reads part of the report. The group, which was formed by remnants of the forces that executed the Genocide against the Tutsi, has for years been operating in eastern Congo from where they launch offensives on Rwandan territory, killing civilians. The park, which borders Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, is being used as the terrorist group’s base, where they hold hostages, some of whom released after paying a ransom. “It is impossible for anyone to operate in the Park without at least the tacit consent of FDLR or some of its members, as the Park is controlled by that armed group.” The experts who compiled the report indicated that they spoke to several sources who attested that all FDLR attacks occurred within a few hundred meters from the DR Congo (FARDC) FARDC positions. Despite some of its leaders killed and following various military operations FDLR continued to recruit and provide training to several local armed groups and according to the report, since 2020, the leadership and organizational structure of FDLR did not change much. The leadership Sanctioned individual “Lieutenant-General” Gaston Iyamuremye, alias Rumuli or Victor Byiringiro was appointed president and political leader, replacing Ignace Murwanashyaka who died in German prison in 2019. Pacifique Ntawunguka, alias Omega has since assumed leadership of the military wing after the death of Sylvestre Mudacumura, who was killed in combat in 2019 and is assisted by Jean Baptiste Gakwerere, alias Julius Mkobo, Sobo Stany or Kolomboka. Other leaders of the outfit include Curé Ngoma, based in Muchababwe near Bukombo, are in charge of FDLR political affairs while Apollinaire Hakizimana alias Amikwe Lepic or Poète, based in FDLR’s base known as Mozambique next to Kibirizi serves as “Defense commissioner. Aimé Gustave Omega, located in Birambizo, is mentioned in the report as the head of intelligence. The UN report also indicated that the Protogène Ruvugayimikore, alias Ruhinda, and his deputy known as “Silencieux”, leads an elite unit known as Commando de Recherche et d’Action en Profondeur (CRAP) while Ruhinda also oversaw the training of FDLR combatants. For long, Rwanda has accused the DRC government for failure to kick out the FDLR. In fact, reports backed by evidence indicate that DR Congo army operates alongside FDLR in fighting other armed groups. The same stand was maintained by Rwanda’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Claver Gatete on Wednesday, June 29 during the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the DR Congo. “FARDC should avoid the tendency of forging alliances with hostile and sanctioned armed groups to fight other armed groups. It is counterproductive and undermines the commitment of the region and the United Nations to stabilise eastern DRC,” Gatete said. MONUSCO, the UN mission in DR Congo has been supporting the Congolese army (FARDC) in fighting M23 rebels. The alliance between FARDC and MONUSCO, according to Gatete, puts MONUSCO in a very difficult position, because supporting FARDC while it fights alongside FDLR is tantamount to supporting a genocidal armed group. A blanc cheque Reacting to the UN Group of Experts report, Albert Rudatsimburwa, an analyst of regional security affairs said that the report is just a confirmation of what is already known that the FDLR was given a free pass to operate freely in the DR Congo. “It is as though the FDLR was handed a blank cheque. What makes it worse is, they are not operating deep inside DRC, they are operating just near the border with Rwanda and the DRC government gave them that piece of the country to control it,” he said. Rudatsimburwa, who is also a veteran journalist, also piled blame on the Congolese government and MONUSCO for failure to eliminate the FDLR. “They all know where the FDLR is and what it is doing. The international community knows it, MONUSCO knows it and so is the DRC government but they have not done anything about it. This is proof of lack of willingness to deal with a genocidal force,” he added. Meanwhile, during the UN Security Briefing on DRC, some western countries said that Rwanda should not accuse MONUSCO of working with the FDLR – a claim that Rudatsimburwa called misplaced and intended to cover up some interests in MONUSCO’s wrong doings. “More than anyone else, Rwanda knows how important peacekeeping is and that is why Rwanda can never accuse any peacekeeping mission of wrong doings without evidence. Those defending MONUSCO know that it would put them in danger if the accusations persist but Rwanda should not be silent about MONUSCO operating in a criminal way,” he added. He added that claims that lives of MONUSCO peacekeepers would be in danger if Rwanda persists with the accusation are wrong. “Rwanda’s point is, is it true or not? Rwanda knows much more about the value of lives of blue helmets than those claiming to be speaking for them. And Rwanda doesn’t take their lives and contribution lightly. If Rwanda is not lying then they shouldn’t silence them,” said Rudatsimburwa.
