Subscribe by rss
    Tuesday 02 March, 2021
    Rwanda News
      • Home
      • National
      • Politics
      • Regional
      • Magazines
      • OP&ED
    Published On: Wed, Sep 5th, 2012
    breaking / English / featured1 | By gahiji

    Rwanda : UN refutes DR Congo figures of Rwanda Special Forces

     

    The RDF Special Forces were received by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Charles Kayonga

    The RDF Special Forces were received by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Charles Kayonga

    The UN headquarters in New York has confirmed that there were indeed “about 350” Rwandan Special Forces in eastern DRC, contrary to what was said by the Kinshasa government spokesman Lambert Mende that they were less than 100.

    At a press conference on Sunday, which was redone on Monday, Mende angrily reacted to numbers provided by Rwandan officials after the Special Forces withdrew. They were said to have been 357 troops operating alongside a similar number of Congolese.

    At UN HQ, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman Martin Nesirky, confirmed to Inner City Press online news service on Tuesday that the number was provided by the Congo’s army (FARDC).

    “Regarding your question on the information MONUSCO received about Rwandan Defense Force elements, we have been told that MONUSCO was informed by the FARDC that there were around 350 RDF elements,” said Nesirky.

    He was answering on behalf of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Affairs, which manages MONUSCO. The figure from the UN was provided by the Congolese army sometime back – meaning the UN has been aware of the presence of Rwanda Special Forces, just like Kinshasa but have feigned ignorance.

    DRC spokesman Mende suggested at his press conference that many of those Rwanda forces withdrawing were simply coming from M23 rebels – amid international pressure on the Rwandan government.

    The Special Forces were withdrawn on Saturday, a day following the first public revelation by Rwanda’s Defense Minister, Gen James Kabarebe, about the Special Forces. He affirmed they had been there since March 2011 as part of joint Rwanda-DRC operations against Rwandan FDLR rebels.

    As the Rwanda Special Forces withdrew, so did the Congolese counterparts, which have been moved to other places – most likely back to Kinshasa. The Rwanda troops reportedly walked more than 100km in a single day from their bases to the Rwandan border.

    Meanwhile, reports from Rutchuru say the areas in which the Special Forces left, have been taken over by M23 rebels on one side, and FDLR and Mai Mai on the other. The three rebel groups are controlling different parts of the large area.

    The RDF Special Forces walked for more than 100km is a single day from Rutchuru to the Rwandan border

    The RDF Special Forces walked for more than 100km is a single day from Rutchuru to the Rwandan border

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Related News
    Tweet

    Rwanda Seeks Russian Help to Stop UN Freeing Key Genocide Convicts

    Africa Innovation Summit Kicks Off in Rwanda

    Disruptive Technology Takes Centre Stage at African Innovation Summit in Rwanda

    Kagame in Belgium, Scheduled Talks with King and PM

    Leave a comment

    Click here to cancel reply.

    XHTML: You can use these html tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

    Join us in Facebook

    Popular Posts

    • Unknown son of Gen Fred GISA Rwigema reappears after 24 years
    • Tribert Rujugiro: The Story of the Rwandan Billionaire
    • Israel Joins Rwanda to Demand France Acts on Genocide Suspects
    • Rwanda Seeks Russian Help to Stop UN Freeing Key Genocide Convicts
    • Gen Joseph Nzabamwita Named New Intelligence Chief

    Recent News

    • Rwanda Seeks Russian Help to Stop UN Freeing Key Genocide Convicts
    • Africa Innovation Summit Kicks Off in Rwanda
    • Disruptive Technology Takes Centre Stage at African Innovation Summit in Rwanda
    • Kagame in Belgium, Scheduled Talks with King and PM
    • How Rwandan Banks can Benefit from Latest Technologies
    • Rwanda: Food Delivery App Cuts Prices, Meal Arrival Time
    • Rwanda Starts Phasing Out Dangerous Refrigerators

    Subscribe via email

    Enter your email address:

    Tweet
    Rwanda News
      • Home
      • About us
      • Contact Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • RSS by category
      • Irembo
      • Abanyapolitiki
        • Ibibazo n’ibisubizo
        • Ibikorwa
        • Imitwe ya politiki
        • Rwanda Politics
        • Ubuvugizi
    All Rights Reserved | NewsOfRwanda.com
      • Home
      • National
      • Politics
      • Regional
      • Magazines
      • OP&ED