FDLR Movements Unfounded, Says MONUSCO

Civilians fleeing fighting in Eastern Congo

Rumors related to thousands of FDLR forces and their family members having decided to return peacefully to Rwanda have been circulating recently.

In a press release published in Kinshasa on 2^nd January 2013, MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission for stabilization of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has however dismissed the information.

The mentioned rumors seem to have originated from Rwanda. Back in November 2012, a few days after the rebel movement M23 moved out of Goma following international pressure, Kagame’s government simulated an attack of FDLR with some complicity of insiders in the rebellion group.

The then alleged insecurity at the border between Rwanda and DRC caused by apparently an FDLR’s incursion into Rwanda was seemingly impossible considered military positions held by different forces in the concerned area. And this was the conclusion of credible analysis on the reported incident by Rwandan authorities’ sources.

That today pro-Kagame press in Rwanda, – we forget sometime that there is no independent media in the country, connects with its network outside to allege unfounded information, this won’t be the first or last time. Instead what people should consider carefully is the purpose of those spreading such rumors.

Could the objective be to showcase Rwanda as a responsible country geared to solving its longstanding refugee problem during its first days as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council?

It surprised how facts from one common source can be read and interpreted differently to serve each interested side.