Over 50 militiamen from DR Congo paraded, to be charged with terrorism

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on Friday, July 17, paraded to the media 57 suspect caught in acts of subversion against the country. Majority are members of armed anti-Rwanda militia captured at different periods in DR Congo and in Rwanda. They include some who participated in the attack in Musanze District last year in October that claimed the lives of 14 innocent civilians. Dominique Bahorera, acting spokesperson of RIB, said 34 of them are former members of militia groups while 23 are civilians. Their case files were sent to prosecution on Thursday, he said. The militia members, it was revealed, belong to different groups including P5, RUD-Urunana, CNRD and FDLR all which are based in eastern DR Congo. Bahorera said there were five militia ‘Generals, three Colonels and others. The list includes Maj Gen Felician Nsanzubukire alias Irakiza and Maj Gen Anastase Munyaneza alias Rukundo Kuramba, both from CNRD, and FDLR members including Maj Gen Habyarimana, Brig Gen Marc Habimana and Brig Gen Leopold Mujyambere. They also include Second Lieutenant Jean Chretien Ndagijimana, the son of ‘Lt Gen’ Laurent Ndagijimana, mainly known as Wilson Irategeka or Rumbago, the former head of CNRD who was killed by the Congolese army late last year, is also among the paraded group. Bahorera said the charges they face include terrorism, conspiring to topple a legitimate government, murder and looting, as well as forming and being members of armed groups. Civilians will be taken to civilian courts while soldiers will be taken to the military tribunal. Investigations, it is noted, continue to verify information they revealed during interrogation. Regret rebellion Speaking to reporters, the former militia fighters expressed regret for everything they have been doing before capture. Col Marc Nizeyimana, 48, a former CNRD commander said that in one single attack by the Congolese army, last year, they lost scores of men as well as their leader ‘Lt Gen’ Irategeka, who was previously vice president of FDLR before parting ways with the latter in 2016. He said he was brought to Rwanda on March 7 after his group was badly battered by Congolese forces. The Congolese are so tough on militia groups now. There is no more room for free maneuver, he said. Most fundraising for their support, Nzeyimana said, is done in Europe. Col Emmanuel Iyamuremye, another CNRD commander captured by the Congolese army last year in Uvira region while on a trip to visit his wife, told reporters that his arrest wouldnt have been possible during the previous Congolese regime. He said anti-Rwanda militia groups remaining in DR Congo have no real direction now or fighting capacity. Its after I returned home that I realized how weak we were. Considering what I now assess I really regret the time I have lost in life. We were told that we could capture power. It was a big lie. Presently, I only appeal to the few of my former colleagues still in Congo to stop and return home if they ever want to have a chance in life. But Iyamumuremye also admits it is not so easy for those he left behind to come home as they are still held hostage by the superiors. Kinigi attack Theoneste Habumukiza, a member of the RUD-Urunana terror group which was among the attackers in Kinigi, Musanze District in October last year, also briefly talked to reporters. Appearing in handcuffs, Habumukiza seemed more than inclined to explain events leading to the infamous attack. He spoke of how they started off a long journey from South Kivu in April 2019, heading northwards to link up with others to carry out the attack. They were part of the P5 arrangement, he acknowledged, that was intent on destabilizing Rwanda. When they got to the Masisi region of North Kivu, he said, the Congolese army struck hard and they were disoriented. But they did not give up on the mission to strike on Rwandan soil. He said: Our team regrouped and then started off in September again heading to Rwanda led by Major Nshimiyimana alias Gavana (Governor). We traveled at night and camped during the day. In October last year, they entered Bunagana through Virunga Park. The plan was that we attack Cyanika but because we had lost our way we started from Kinigi, he said, noting that his group numbered about 47. I know that we had orders that we would reconnect with troops from Uganda when we got to Cyanika. Asked why they targeted innocent civilians, he said that was actually an order by their superiors. The killing of civilians was because of orders from our commander who said we could not spare any civilian who collaborated with the government. Habumukiza, a Business Administration graduate from the University of Rwanda where he studied on a government scholarship, hails from Burera District, in Northern Province. After his capture last year, he said he was recruited into militia groups when he was pursuing a master’s degree at Uganda’s Makerere University in Kampala. The militias network in Uganda, he said, lured him with promises of earning big at mining sites in DR Congo. He said: After all this, now I regret everything I did and ask Rwandans for forgiveness because the government had done everything for me including education. I had a good job and had worked at Radiant Insurance company.

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Over 50 militiamen from DR Congo paraded, to be charged with terrorism