THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has asked the international community to engage Rwanda and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in the current efforts, to help rebel forces voluntarily disarm and resettle in their home country.
Addressing reporters shortly after briefing ambassadors and heads of foreign missions accredited to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Bernard Membe said SADC's position was influenced by FDLR's recent formal letter asking for peaceful engagement and subsequent home-going.
Mr Membe noted that following the defeat of the then most powerful insurgents in eastern Congo, the M23 by the Congolese army, supported by the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade, it was now time to oversee "a totally peaceful Congo" following the latest position by FDLR. Tanzania was part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade that defeated M23 in November, last year.
Mr Membe said that SADC had held meetings to discuss how the rebels could go through the five processes of disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement back to Rwanda.
"But in this entire process, we have assured the government of Rwanda that they can investigate and try in courts of law those FDLR members they suspect of taking part in the 1994 genocide," he said.
FDLR is a rebel group led in part by commanders alleged to have taken part in the 1994 genocide.
Mr Membe said that in the process to see the rebels go through the five steps and resettle back to their home country Rwanda, SADC has requested the international community to engage the Rwanda government in receiving the new FDLR position of wanting to leave the camps and return home peacefully.
"The entire process needs three to six months to complete. So we have asked the international community to help us (SADC) in monitoring and repatriation in the effort to help FDLR's return peacefully. The process also costs money," he noted.
Posted by: Nzinink <nzinink@yahoo.com>
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