Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
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| Hutu militants |
|---|
| Rwandan Genocide (1994) |
| Impuzamugambi |
| Interahamwe |
| Rwandan Armed Forces |
| Refugee crisis |
| RDR (1995–1996) |
| 1st and 2nd Congo War |
| ALiR (1996–2001) |
| FDLR (2000–present) |
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda was the primary Rwandian Hutu Power rebel group during the latest part of the Second Congo War. It continues to operate, mostly within the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is composed almost entirely of ethnic Hutus opposed to Tutsi rule and influence in the region. The group is often referred to as the FDLR after its original French name: the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda.
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[edit] Timeline
The FDLR was formed in 2000 after the Kinshasa-based Hutu command and the Kivu-based Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALiR) agreed to merge. It counts among its number the original members of the Interahamwe that carried out the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. It received extensive backing from, and cooperation from, the government of Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who used the FDLR as a proxy force against the foreign armies operating in the country, in particular the Rwandan Patriotic Army and Rwanda-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy. In July 2002, FDLR units still in Kinshasa-held territory moved into North and South Kivu. At this time it was thought to have between 15,000 and 20,000 members. Even after the official end of the Second Congo War in 2002, FDLR units continued to attack Tutsi forces both in eastern DRC and across the border into Rwanda, vastly increasing tensions in the region and raising the possibility of another Rwandan offensive into the DRC – what would be their third since 1996. In mid-2004, a number of attacks forced 25,000 Congolese to flee their homes.
Following several days of talks with Congolese government representatives, the FDLR announced on 31 March 2005 that they were abandoning their armed struggle and returning to Rwanda as a political party. The talks held in Rome, Italy were mediated by Sant'Egidio. The Rwandan government stated that any returning genocidaires would face justice, most probably through the gacaca court system. It was stated that if all of the FDLR commanders, who are believed to control about 10,000 militants, disarmed and returned, a key source of cross-border tensions would be removed.[1]
On October 4, 2005, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement demanding the FDLR disarm and leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately. Under an agreement reached in August, the rebels had pledged to leave Congo by September 30.[2][3]
FDLR leader Ignace Murwanashyaka was arrested in Mannheim, Germany, in April 2006, but released shortly thereafter.[4]
In August 2007, the Congolese military announced that it was ending a seven-month offensive against the FDLR, prompting a sharp rebuke by the government of Rwanda. Prior to this, Gen. Laurent Nkunda had split from the government, taking Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsis in the DRC) soldiers from the former Rally for Congolese Democracy and assaulting FDLR positions, displacing a further 160,000 people.[5]
In October 2007 the International Crisis Group said that the group's military forces had dropped from an estimated 15,000 in 2001 to 6–7,000 then, organised into four battalions and a reserve brigade in North Kivu and four battalions in South Kivu.[6] It named the political and military headquarters as Kibua and Kalonge respectively, both in the jungle covered Walikale region of North Kivu. It also said that 'about the same number' of Rwandan citizens, family members of combatants, and unrelated refugees remained behind FDLR lines in separate communities.
In December 2008 DR Congo and Rwanda agreed to attempt to disband the FDLR,[7] though they will have to destroy the organisation by force or otherwise shut it down. On January 20, 2009, the Rwandan Army, in concert with the Congolese government, entered the DR Congo to hunt down lingering FDLR fighters.[8]
[edit] Latest developments
On 9 and 10 May 2009, FDLR rebels were blamed for attacks on the villages of Ekingi (South Kivu) and Busurungi (Walikale territory, southern boundary of North Kivu).[9] More than 90 people were killed at Ekingi, including 60 civilians and 30 government troops, and "dozens more" were said to be killed at Busurungi.[9] The FDLR were blamed by the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; the UN's peacekeeping force, MONUC, and the Congolese Army are investigating the attacks.[9] The FDLR had attacked several other villages in the preceding weeks and clashes occurred between FDLR forces and the Congolese Army, during which government forces are reported to have lost men killed and wounded.[10] The most recent attacks have forced a significant number of people from their homes in Busurungi to Hombo, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north.[10] The Congolese Army and MONUC are planning operations in South Kivu to eliminate the FDLR.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Rwandan Hutus end armed struggle, BBC, 31 March 2005
- ^ Security Council calls on Rwandan rebel group to disarm, leave DR of Congo, UN News Centre, 4 October 2005
- ^ Security Council deplores failure of foreign armed group to disarm, repatriate combatants from Democratic Republic of Congo 4 October 2005 UN News
- ^ allafrica.com (subscription required)
- ^ "Rwanda anger at Congo rebel move", BBC News, 15 August 2007
- ^ International Crisis Group Congo: Bringing Peace to North Kivu, Africa Report No.133, 31 October 2007, Annex D, p.27
- ^ "Mediator says Congo rebel talks make progress". Reuters. 2008-12-09. http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4B900I.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ "Rwandan soldiers enter DR Congo". BBC. 2009-01-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7839510.stm. Retrieved on 2009-01-20.
- ^ a b c "'Dozens killed' in DR Congo raids". BBC. 13 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8049105.stm. Retrieved on 14 May 2009.
- ^ a b c "Dozens of civilians killed in DRCongo rebel attacks: UN". Associated Press. 13 May 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iEw4rts174XhpU0NaFtFR-LB2zSw. Retrieved on 14 May 2009.
[edit] Further reading
- Brig. Gen. Jacques Musemakweli, SSR in the Great Lakes Region: A Tool for Security and Sustainable Development, Department for Defence Management and Security Analysis, Defence College of Management and Technology thesis, August 2006, R/06/963, accessible via DCMT Library, Defence Academy Shrivenham, UK
