Former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila has condemned the Tshisekedi regime in Kinshasa for integrating the terrorist (Rwandan genocidaires) FDLR into the Congolese army (FARDC).
In a lengthy address to the Congolese people, Kabila warned that this dangerous alliance is accelerating the regionalization of the conflict, with dire consequences for regional stability.
For years the Tshisekedi regime has maintained covert ties with the FDLR, a group largely composed of remnants responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Despite international concern and repeated calls for disbandment, there has been no genuine effort to sever these ties.
Under the Luanda mediation framework, Rwanda and the DRC agreed on a plan to dismantle the FDLR on October 13, 2024. However, just days later, Tshisekedi’s regime unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, casting doubt on its commitment to regional peace.
Contrary, the M23 movement has made tangible efforts to weaken the FDLR. Since liberating Goma, M23 forces have captured and handed over several FDLR fighters to Rwanda, including Brigadier General Jean Baptiste Gakwerere, a key figure in the 1994 Genocide.
While M23 acts to dismantle this genocidal militia, the Tshisekedi regime continues to provide safe haven and indirect support to its members allowing them to regroup, grow, and remain a threat to Rwanda and to the Congolese people who suffer from their continued presence.
If peace and stability are to return to the Great Lakes region, Tshisekedi must act decisively. Harboring the FDLR only fuels conflict and undermines regional trust. The time has come for his regime to abandon this perilous partnership and join sincere efforts to annihilate the FDLR once and for all.
ellenkampire