A woman and her five children were killed in an overnight attack in Bwito in eastern DR Congo, the AFC/M23 rebels said on Friday, July 3, accusing the FDLR militia of carrying out the killings. ALSO READ: Former FDLR ‘Colonel’ on how militia funds its operations AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the attack took place at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday in Kabizo village, Butare locality, where the family of local chief Rugamba was targeted. Rugamba's wife and their five children were killed in the attack. “The heinous crimes perpetrated by the FDLR, a component of the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime, continue with unbearable cruelty,” Kanyuka said. ALSO READ: Congolese rights groups say FDLR drives insecurity in Walikale The FDLR is a Rwandan genocidal militia formed by remnants responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “The AFC-M23 alerts the Congolese people to the continuation of atrocities committed by the FDLR with the support and under the supervision of the Kinshasa regime,” Kanyuka said. ALSO READ: Former FDLR deputy president on how genocidal militia was formed The Congolese government coalition includes Burundian forces, the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, foreign mercenaries and several local armed groups. Kanyuka said the AFC/M23 “reaffirms its total determination to defend and protect civilian populations by all necessary means.” The reported attack comes eight months after Rwanda and DR Congo signed the Washington Accords, under which Kinshasa committed to neutralising the FDLR while Rwanda agreed to lift its defensive measures once the militia had been dismantled. ALSO READ: Ex-FDLR leader: DR Congo’s support for Genocidal militia still the biggest threat to peace The agreement identifies the neutralisation of the FDLR as a key confidence-building measure between the two countries. However, no concrete steps have been taken toward disarming the militia since the accord was signed.
