Lt Col Willian Ryarasa, the Commanding Officer of the Rwanda Defense Forces- RDF 3rd Division stationed in Gisenyi, has issued a grave warning. The FDLR, a genocidal force notorious for its brutal acts, is currently devising a sinister scheme to carry out terrorist attacks on Rwanda. Disturbingly, they intend to utilize weapons and grenades supplied by President Tshisekedi himself.
To truly comprehend the gravity of the situation, our attention must be directed toward the troubled region of North Kivu. It was in this very area during the summer of 1994, immediately following the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, that members of the Armed Forces of Rwanda (FAR), Interahamwe militias, and Impuzamugambi militias, all directly implicated in the genocidal acts committed against their Rwandan compatriots, sought refuge within the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the patronage of the late Zairean dictator, Mobutu Sesse Seko.
Mobutu allowed these genocidaires to cross the border without undergoing the mandatory disarmament procedures. Consequently, they settled in close proximity to the Rwandan border, in violation of international laws. Ever since their arrival, these forces have steadily regrouped and taken root in Kivu, unleashing a reign of fear and terror upon the local populations with the support of various Congolese regimes. One particular group targeted with utmost brutality has been the Congolese Tutsi community, who have been driven to seek refuge in neighboring countries to escape the horrors inflicted upon them.
A disturbing nexus has formed between these genocidal forces and the Congolese army, where they collude to orchestrate the formation of armed tribal gangs. These notorious armed groups, totaling a staggering 266 in number, spread a vile rhetoric of hatred and discrimination against Congolese citizens who speak the Kinyarwanda language.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Tshisekedi provided the genocidal forces with the lethal 122 mm TRG-122 Guided Rocket last year. Equipped with such devastating munitions, they gained the means to carry out attacks on Rwandan soil. Unleashing two projectiles from the strategic town of Bunagana, they struck the Nyabigoma cell in the Kinigi sector of the Musanze district. Fortunately, no casualties were reported but they destroyed property. These terrifying incidents follow a string of bombings perpetrated by the FARDC/FDLR on March 19 and May 23, 2022.
These despicable acts caused injuries and inflicted significant damage upon critical infrastructure and private property. The gravity of these distressing occurrences has been meticulously documented and officially reported to the esteemed members of the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
To eliminate this formidable threat, a decisive and coordinated approach must be undertaken across various fronts. Diplomatic channels must be utilized to exert pressure on the Tshisekedi regime, shedding light on their active support of the FDLR and their involvement in abetting these acts of terrorism.
In parallel, it is essential to execute robust military operations with the objective of locating and capturing the high-ranking officials and foot soldiers of the FDLR. If the DRC army proves incapable or unwilling to carry out this crucial task, it falls upon others to step in and fulfill the mission.
ellenkampire