Main PageAfrican leaders mull action against Hutu rebels in DRC
Abuja - African heads of state will meet later this
month to decide how to disarm Rwandan Hutu
rebels ravaging the troubled east of the Democratic
Republic of Congo who have refused an ultimatum
to surrender.
Less than a quarter of fighters from the Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) turned
themselves in before the January 2 deadline set by
regional leaders.
South African President Jacob Zuma and chair of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
defence arm said only 337 rebels had surrendered.
"The FDLR has therefore not complied in full with the
conditions imposed," he said.
Heads of state from the region will meet in Angola
on 15 and 16 January to decide on how to respond,
with Zuma saying SADC was "ready to play its fullest
part in this regard".
Brutal attacks
In October 2013, the Congolese army and a force of
UN soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi
- authorised to neutralise armed groups - forced the
surrender of M23, another rebel group in the area.
"In the interim, SADC launches an earnest and
urgent appeal on the leadership of the FDLR and all
remaining combatants to immediately and
unconditionally present themselves for
disarmament," Zuma said in a statement.
As the deadline expired on Friday, the head of the
UN mission in the DRC Martin Kobler appealed to
the rebels to seize the chance for peace.
"To all FDLR, you can help stabilise your area by
reaching Monusco or the Congolese authorities and
return to peaceful life in Rwanda," he wrote on
Twitter, referring to the UN's Monusco peacekeeping
mission.
The FDLR is estimated to include between 1 500 and
2 000 ethnic Hutu fighters, some of whom are
accused of having participated in the 1994 Rwandan
genocide.
Opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame's Tutsi
government, they have for years been based across
the border in eastern DRC, where they have been
accused of staging brutal attacks on civilians,
including rapes and murders, and smuggling gold
and charcoal.
month to decide how to disarm Rwandan Hutu
rebels ravaging the troubled east of the Democratic
Republic of Congo who have refused an ultimatum
to surrender.
Less than a quarter of fighters from the Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) turned
themselves in before the January 2 deadline set by
regional leaders.
South African President Jacob Zuma and chair of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
defence arm said only 337 rebels had surrendered.
"The FDLR has therefore not complied in full with the
conditions imposed," he said.
Heads of state from the region will meet in Angola
on 15 and 16 January to decide on how to respond,
with Zuma saying SADC was "ready to play its fullest
part in this regard".
Brutal attacks
In October 2013, the Congolese army and a force of
UN soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi
- authorised to neutralise armed groups - forced the
surrender of M23, another rebel group in the area.
"In the interim, SADC launches an earnest and
urgent appeal on the leadership of the FDLR and all
remaining combatants to immediately and
unconditionally present themselves for
disarmament," Zuma said in a statement.
As the deadline expired on Friday, the head of the
UN mission in the DRC Martin Kobler appealed to
the rebels to seize the chance for peace.
"To all FDLR, you can help stabilise your area by
reaching Monusco or the Congolese authorities and
return to peaceful life in Rwanda," he wrote on
Twitter, referring to the UN's Monusco peacekeeping
mission.
The FDLR is estimated to include between 1 500 and
2 000 ethnic Hutu fighters, some of whom are
accused of having participated in the 1994 Rwandan
genocide.
Opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame's Tutsi
government, they have for years been based across
the border in eastern DRC, where they have been
accused of staging brutal attacks on civilians,
including rapes and murders, and smuggling gold
and charcoal.
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