Defence chiefs approve plan against negative forces

GASABO - The chiefs of defence staff of the Tripartite Plus Joint Commission (TPJC) member states have approved an operational plan to be used in stopping negative forces operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The TPJC is a regional platform put in place to enhance security in the region and is made up of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the DRC. The plan was developed by the DRC government in collaboration with the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the joint planning and operational cells based in the Congolese town of Kisangani made up of all member states. “The meeting agreed to operationalise the existing FARDC/MONUC plans against the negative forces,” reads the joint communiqué that was signed by the four defence chiefs. The meeting, which was chaired by the RDF Chief of General Staff, Gen James Kabarebe, was attended by Uganda Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, DRC Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Dieudonée Kayembe, and Burundian Army Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen Samuel Gahiro. “The plan was developed in the spirit of the Nairobi Communiqué and other efforts to bring peace to the region,” said RDF Spokesperson, Maj. Jill Rutaremara who attended the closed door session. The Nairobi Communiqué was signed between Rwanda and the DRC last year with the two countries committing themselves to rout the negative forces destabilizing Rwanda from the DRC. Notable among these are the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) a rebel group that is made of key perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide, the Ex-FAR and Interahamwe militia. Earlier in the day, defence minister Gen Marcel Gatsinzi who opened the meeting, expressed concern over the Ex-FAR/Interahamwe. “The Government of Rwanda is particularly concerned by the threats posed by the Ex-FAR/Interahamwe and their Genocidal ideology…the destruction and neutralization of these forces require good intelligence, effective operational plans as well as political will of governments,” Gatsinzi remarked. He welcomed support by the international community, citing the recent resolution by the UN Security Council which called for the disarmament of the FDLR and other Rwandan armed groups. The meeting was attended by among others, the Force Commander of MONUC, Gen A. Gaye and the United States Embassy which was represented by Maj Ronald Miller, who was also the facilitator. Ends