Congo based Rwandan FDLR rebels ready to surrender to UN

By Samuel Ouga

The D.R Congo based Rwandan FDLR rebels in a letter dated November 3, addressed to President Joseph Kabila of the DRC, Martin Koble; the head of MONUSCO,  SADC  and and the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have expressed their readiness to sending their fighters into a collection center designed by MONUSCO.

Major General Victor Byiringiro, head of the Rwandan armed group active in eastern DRC for nearly two decades said his forces are ready to start movement to a camp set up by MONUSCO in kisangani from November 17th.

In the letter the rebels said they are "available" for reconnaissance visit to the site chosen for their camp in Kisangani, North Kivu in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Currently about 200 FDLR fighters have been grouped in transit camps in Kanyabayonga in North Kivu, and Walungu, South Kivu.

Bazeye Son La Forge; the FDLR spokesman confirmed to Jeune Afrique saying; "This is a new gesture of good faith. We are committed to transforming this insurgency in to a political struggle in Rwanda.”

Countries in the region had given the Congo based Rwandan rebels a last ultimatum of six months; which expires on January 2, 2015, to voluntarily lay down their arms or face military action.
The FDLR consists of Hutu fighters and families that fled Rwanda after the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), led by president Paul Kagame, took over the country in 1994. FDLR ranks include armed members of one of the militia that carried out the 1994 Rwanda genocide, who have been in neighboring Congo ever since. Some of their members are accused of genocide, mass rape and trying to overthrow the Rwandan government.
 

NB: The writer can be reached; souga@newvision.co.ug

Twitter: @ougasam