Congolese flee rebel attacks

Thousands of Congolese nationals are fleeing to Rwanda and Uganda escaping violence following resumption of clashes between DR Congo army and rebel groups, officials have confirmed. So far, about 300 Congolese nationals have entered Rwanda through Western Province while about 7,000 have crossed over to Uganda. Reports indicate that Congolese citizens are fleeing attacks by terrorist groups; the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan rebel outfit.The FDLR is composed of mainly perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and have lived in Congolese jungles since they fled the country after the Genocide.The director in charge of refugee affairs at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDMAR), Jean Claude Rwahama, confirmed to The New Times that indeed there are Congolese refugees entering Rwanda and are being received at Nkamira Transit Centre in the Western Province. Media reports indicate that those fleeing to Uganda are mainly in Kisoro District in the south western part of the country.MIDIMAR officials say most of the refugees are youth who fear to be forcefully conscripted into rebel activities by the rebel groups.The number of those crossing to Rwanda has been increasing as by yesterday a total of 295 had already reached the camp registered with Migration office in Rubavu District.“We are warmly receiving them, they are getting food and as we are discussing with the UNHCR officials here to transfer them to refugee camps,” said Rwahama.On whether the UNHCR will afford feeding the sudden influx of refugees, Rwahama said that currently there is no shortage of food and believes they will be well catered for. Currently, there are thousands of Congolese refugees in Rwanda in three camps of Gihembe in Gicumbi District, Kiziba Camp in Karongi District, and Nyabiheke camp in Gatisbo.They total to over 55, 000 and have been living in these camps for over 15 years.Aid agencies say rebel activities in the eastern DRC this year, have killed more than 100 people and displaced about 200,000 from their homes.The FDLR’s presence in DRC is responsible for years of unrest in the region although the militia has been over the years weakened and lost its high ranking commanders – some of whom have surrendered while others were captured and repatriated back to Rwanda. In the previous years, the on-and-off fighting involving the FDLR and other militia groups displaced hundreds of thousands of Congolese people. FDLR’s suffered heavy losses in 2009 during the joint Rwanda-DRC military operation code-named Umoja Wetu in North Kivu which destroyed the group’s bases and left their fighters scattered in the Congolese jungles.Umoja Wetu was followed by Kimia II, a joint offensive between the Congolese armed forces and the UN forces in DRC.Meanwhile, reports indicate that the other rebel group, LRA, also increasingly weakened, continues to kill, terrorise, and displace people. The LRA militias, who are led by Joseph Kony, one of the world’s most wanted criminals are currently being pursued by the Ugandan armed forces with support from 100 highly trained US Special Forces among others.The Ugandan rebel group today is thought to be greatly diminished, with no more than a few hundred fighters. But it remains a threat, and villagers live in constant fear.Now the Ugandan army says the rebels in this area number just 120 fighters — with another 100 women and abducted children.

National

Congolese flee rebel attacks