Democratic Republic of Congo military orders Rwandan rebels to surrender

KIGALI, Rwanda

The Congolese military has ordered the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels in eastern Congo to disarm and surrender as efforts continue to end violence in the country.

In a statement late Friday, the military directed the rebels to surrender to government authorities, or the UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO), pending their repatriation to Rwanda.

“The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) call on all FDLR factions to lay down their arms,” said the statement signed by Maj. Gen. Ekenge Efomi Sylvain, army spokesman.

It urged the FDLR to facilitate the peace process and to surrender without violence or bloodshed.

The military also urged citizens with links to the FDLR to dissociate themselves from the Rwandan rebels and to sensitize them to surrender unconditionally.

Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace deal to put an end to the conflict in eastern provinces at the end of June.

The two sides agreed to develop a phased approach to disarm armed groups, including the neutralization of the FDLR and associated groups, as well lifting defensive measures by Rwanda.

“In the event of resistance and refusal to comply, the FARDC, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Washington agreement will proceed with disarmament by coercion or by the use of force,” the military warned.

It urged government soldiers to avoid collaborating in any way with the FDLR, warning of severe consequences in case of violation of the order.

Rwanda accuses the Congolese army of working with the FDLR to fight the M23 rebels in eastern Congo.

Kinshasa and others also accuse Kigali of backing M23 rebels, a charge Rwanda consistently denies.

Rwanda regards the FDLR as a terror group, whose elements are linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group.

The government has maintained that FDLR demobilization and repatriation to Rwanda is “a non-negotiable requirement to protect Rwanda’s territorial integrity.”

The military directive came one day after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi declared he “wants peace, true peace” and called on his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to work together to end violence in eastern Congo -- by ordering M23 troops to stop escalation -- in a speech in Brussels that Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe described as “political theatrics which has become ridiculous.”