Gen. Kabarebe on how the FDLR is “preserved” to endanger the progress of Rwanda

The FDLR, a militia based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and connected to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, has been able to survive for three decades thanks to the support of the international community, including strong nations that continue to view it as a threat to Rwanda’s progress, according to the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, March 5, where MPs, senior government officials, leaders of political parties, and members of civil society discussed the state of genocidal ideology in the area and countermeasures, Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe made the observation.

The FDLR’s presence in eastern DR Congo, according to Kabarebe, is due to deliberate maintenance rather than just its strength. The FDLR has joined the Congolese military in the continuing conflict against the M23 rebels, fighting with Wazalendo, or local militias.

On Tuesday, March 5, members of Parliament, government officials, political party representatives, and civil society leaders convened. Courtesy.

He cited the embarrassment caused by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, which took place while the powerful nations looked on helplessly and did little to stop it, as one of the reasons for supporting the FDLR.

Another crucial element is that Rwanda is developing at an exceptionally rapid rate. It will not be a good example in Africa if nothing is done to stop it,” Kabarebe added, alluding to unnamed nations that oppose Africa’s development.

“These countries are well aware that the only way to undermine Rwanda is through divisionism based on genocide ideology,” he stated.

According to him, “FDLR has existed in Congo because it is maintained as a threat to Rwanda that can stop the [development] speed at which we are,” highlighting the significance of Rwanda’s independence.

He discussed Wazalendo, a coalition of young Congolese who were inspired by a “very extremist ideology” of anti-Rwanda, anti-Tutsi sentiment.

The majority of Wazalendo groups that persecute Congolese Tutsi populations, like Mai Mai Nyatura, were formed by the FDLR, according to Kabarebe.

He also stated that the FDLR was part of a coalition of the Burundian national army, the DR Congo national army FARDC, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), among other military organizations, that had planned to attack Rwanda until this year, when the M23 rebels took over the Rwandan border city of Goma.