2014-12-30 12:46:00

Congo DR's North Kivu: FDLR rebels surrender as deadline draws near


MISNA reports that about 150 Rwandan Hutu rebels surrendered in Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s restive east. The move comes a week from a deadline set by the international community for all combatants active in the area to turn themselves in and surrender their weapons or face military action.

The combatants in question are rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and their families, including women and children), who surrendered to local authorities in Buleusa, in the Walikale territory, according to North Kivu officials. Another group also joined them in Buleusa and a third group of 72 fighters surrendered later in Burhinyi, in South Kivu, accompanied by 168 women and children.

Under the program, the Kivu rebels will then be transferred to Kisangani, capital of the Orientale province, where other FDLR members who surrendered earlier are gathered.

The FDLR is thought to include between 1,500 and 2,000 fighters, including those suspected of having participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

On April 18 the FDLR had announced the surrender, saying that it was giving up the armed fight in order to “devote itself to the political struggle in Rwanda”. The Rwandan government refuses any dialogue with the rebel group.

[FB/BO]








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.