It has become a norm, every time the west seeks to defend its interests in DRC, it has to appear to blame or condemn M23, and somehow for balance reasons, it throws in a word or two about FDLR. Truth be told you can’t condemn M23 and downplay the bloody record of FDLR.
Even more, the so-called international community cannot condemn M23 on basis of FDLR. It should be recalled that part of what M23 is fighting against in DRC are longstanding effects caused by FDLR, a blacklisted terror group responsible for the bloodiest century genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.
When FDLR was given a safe haven in Congo following its defeat by the former Rwanda Patriotic Army, they took advantages of the massive size of the country and spread the toxic genocide ideology amongst Congolese. Some of Congolese took their word as true Gospel and started to hunt down their fellow Congolese speaking Kinyarwanda and of Tutsis ethnic.
Working closely with different governments in Kinshasa, FDLR – which was supposed to be disarmed, cantoned and repatriated – was instead supported militarily, and logistically to execute their prime plan of ethnic cleansing in DRC, with another ultimate aim (shared with the Tshisekedi regime) of causing “regime change” in Rwanda.
Of the reasons that pushed M23 to pick up arms were that Kinshasa was in bed with FDLR, in a genocidal campaign targeting Congolese Tutsi communities. This was on top of denying those communities their natural riights as Congolese citizens. These are crimes against humanity that should never be ignored.
Tribalism and genocide ideology being fueled by the entrenched FDLR in DRC is what the international community should denounce, not people fighting for their rights. A reminder that Tshisekedi government which brags to have more than 400 tribes which as they say “live in harmony and peaceful” is the same government whose country house more than 200 armed groups.
Continuous looting of DRC resources by FDLR in building up a force with an aim to topple Rwanda government is alarming enough to be condemned, but the west chose to ignore. It is important to note that of the 10 percent controlled areas of Virunga National Park in Rutshuru territory give them an annual income of more than $50 millions from minerals, timber businesses and burning charcoal.
While the international community is fully aware of all these historical facts, it is appalling that they choose to blame M23 as the main culprit, knowing very well they are fighting for their survival. The integration of FDLR within FARDC is a direct complicity to crime against humanity, that is what should be condemned not people fighting for their rights.
ellenkampire