Congo instability won’t affect Rwanda, official says

NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — The chairman of Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) has assured ex combatants that renewed fighting in the troubled Congolese region of north Kivu will not affect Rwanda’s security. Jean Sayinzoga asked the ex combatants to embark on developmental ventures as they begin a new life with no fear that the recent fresh fighting can spill over. He was speaking during the ceremony to discharge 97 ex-combatants who had completed two-month orientation course at Mutobo demobilisation centre. The training is normally aimed at preparing the ex-rebels to return to normal civilian life. He urged the former fighters to instead reveal the factors hindering defecting rebels from returning. “You should pass to them messages of hope and assurance to return. Let us emulate God’s love of loving others as we love ourselves,’ Sayinzoga said. The 29th phase of the discharge ceremony at Mutobo, gave way to another group of over 200 former rebels including two officers at the rank of colonel. They are Col. Claude Kalegeya and Col. Faustan Sebuhura. The European Union (EU) envoy to the Great Lakes region, Roland Van de Geen commended the return of the ex-combatants, saying it was a step moving towards peace, stability and security of the region. He said that the EU is looking forward and ready to do its best to stop wars and return peace. During the two-month course, the ex-combatants were equipped with literacy skills, the government policy of forming cooperatives, decentralisation, HIV/AIDS, gender, refugee crisis-for which they received certificates of merit. Ends