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Plain textTensions Rise As Rwanda Militia Groups Join Forces In DRC
The Rwanda Defence Forces continue to reinforce military deployments at its borders with DRC following unsettling reports in the eastern part of the war-torn neighbour, Chimp Corps report.
On Sunday, PS Imberakuri, a militia group started by the jailed Bernard Ntaganda, announced it was officially joining hands with FDLR, whose leadership and ideology was responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
In a statement seen by Chimpreports Investigations Desk, the First Vice President of the PS Imberakuri, Alexis Bakunzibake and FDLR President 'Major General' Victor Byiringiro agreed to work together to cause regime change in Kigali.
The two militia group leaders also decided to name their new alliance - FCRL–Ubumwe.
They accused President Kagame's government of the "recruitment activities of the youth to strengthen the rebels of the M23 currently refugees in Rwanda and the fact that a lot of information confirm that the Kigali Government is planning to resume fighting against the Congo claiming the presence of the FDLR in this country as it has always been the case since 2000."
Rwanda denies the allegation, saying M23 members are kept in gazetted areas.
According to FCRL–Ubumwe's statement, Kigali was also faulted for violation of human rights of opposition activities, suffocation of civil liberties and supporting M23 fighters in DRC.
"No one can ignore that the little respite available to the people of Rwanda is that the RPF knows that the FDLR can rescue them in case of need. If the international community continues to ignore the suffering of Rwandans, it (FDLR) will have no other choice than to use all means at its disposal," the FDLR warned.
Investigation
The decision to combine forces and also issue threats of war by the deadly militia groups in DRC comes at a very tense moment, with RDF putting its elite units on standby in preparation for a possible invasion.
Informed sources told this website that the UN Force Intervention Brigade's failure to confront the DRC-based FDLR after the defeat of M23 raised fears that the international body was not willing to attack its former allies.
Several units of FDLR were used to by the UN Brigade comprising Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi, in ground assaults of M23 bases especially in Rubare, Rugari, Rutshuru and Bunagana.
The defeat of M23, with majority of its combatants fleeing to Rwanda and Uganda, left a vacuum in eastern Congo which the FDLR has reportedly exploited to arm its fighters, mobilise for new recruits and plan to strike Rwanda.
The Rwanda army maintains tanks and other assortments of heavy artillery on the border with DRC as a cautionary measure.
These units were reinforced last week following rumours that President Paul Kagame had been shot dead by his bodyguard, sparking off wild celebrations among residents of Goma in DRC.
More soldiers have also been deployed in strategic areas around Kigali City.
The diplomatic efforts of President Yoweri Museveni and Secretary of State, John Kerry last year saved the region from a confrontation of Rwanda and DRC militaries at the height of the war against M23.
Some elements in the DRC army and suspected FDLR fighters fired bombs into the Rwanda territory, killing a woman and injuring several people.
Now, reports that PS Imberakuri and FDLR are uniting to fight the Kigali government will likely ratchet up tensions between DRC and Rwanda.
UN REPORT
In a letter dated 12 December 2013 from the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo addressed to the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533, UN investigators reported that FDLR was becoming weaker despite reinforcements from some officials in the DRC army.
During 2013, several events further weakened FDLR, notably in South Kivu. In early February, the FDLR deputy commander, sanctioned individual "Gen." Stanislas Nzeyimana, alias Izabayo Bigaruka, disappeared in Tanzania.
In late November, the South Kivu sector commander, "Col." Hamada Habimana deserted to join his family in Kenya. Also in late November, the Forces nationales de libération (FNL) killed their former ally Mazuru, who was the FDLR liaison officer in the Ruzizi Plains.
During 2013, UN documented cases of local-level collaboration between FDLR and FARDC. For most of the year, some FDLR units cohabited and/or collaborated with FARDC troops including provision of ammunition.
In September and October, three ex-combatants told UN that FDLR buys ammunition from FARDC soldiers for between 50 and 100 CF ($0.05-0.11) per bullet.
The Government of Rwanda maintains that FDLR troops are serving in FARDC.
During September and October, MONUSCO military sources reported that FDLR clashed with M23 on several occasions at Rubare and Rugari.
FDLR coordinated attacks and ambushes against M23 with local FARDC commanders, notably in August. By November, however, when FARDC defeated M23, evidence of FARDC-FDLR collaboration diminished.
FDLR has also worked with other armed groups. Former FDLR combatants said FDLR has had alliances with APCLS and Nyatura. During September and October, UN sources confirmed that FDLR fought alongside APCLS against NDC in Walikale territory.
On 20 October, FDLR attacked Pinga town in Walikale territory along with APCLS combatants. Their troops initially pushed NDC combatants out of parts of Pinga; however, NDC troops counterattacked and took back the town. In September, "Col." Aigle Rouge, who leads the Mai Mai Ngulima group in Misingi-Misinga, Masisi Territory said he collaborates with FDLR in his area.
Rwanda Defence Minister, Gen James Kabarebe recently said "Whoever has kept FDLR for 19 years in DRC is also the one responsible for M23, not me. The rest is diversionary, misleading and scapegoating."
The General, who fought alongside President Paul Kagame in the RPF war that toppled the regime of Juvenal Habyarimana, further added that in 1994 "the FDLR genocidal force in DRC was about 150,000 plus, today it's about 2,000 minus."
He attributed the decimation of over 90 percent of the FDLR militants to "Rwanda Defence Forces operations."
Following the ouster of Habyarimana's regime in 1994, the fleeing Hutu militia later regrouped in DRC before launching a military come back through northern Rwanda.
Kagame, Kabarebe, Maj Gen Alex Kagame and exiled renegade general, Kayumba Nyamwasa among others led the RPF troops in the insurgency thus defeating FDLR.
More lethal operations by RDF inside Congo destroyed the better part of FDLR, killing hundreds of the rebel group's commanders and militants.
FDLR Fighters who chose to surrender were later integrated into the Rwanda society while others were jailed for atrocities committed in the 1994 genocide.
Genocide Ghosts
Kabarebe said "FDLR will be haunted by its genocide crimes till self extermination," adding, "Not even the Pope will cleanse FDLR of their genocide crimes. They must face justice or ask Rwandans for mercy."
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