Rwanda: Inside FDLR policy to remain exclusively “Nordists” only

These are some of the FDLR combatants handed over by their commanders for surrender. A UN report says these were released because they are not “Northerners”

Senior commanders in the Rwandan militia group FDLR are sending back only combatants who originate from others regions of Rwanda and deliberately keeping those from Northern Rwanda, according to research conducted by the United Nations.

The most recent UN study which highlights the issue was conducted in July this year, confirming another conducted in 2007. Both studies have remained classified UN documents until today and have only been shared with the highest levels within the UN.

The FDLR in its current state and name was formed in May 2000. Over the years, more than 14,000 have repatriated. Various accounts put the current FDLR strength at an estimated 3,640, and UN and Rwandan intelligence says its “strength is likely to increase due to ongoing recruitment and training”.

In December last year, the militia group announced it had decided to lay down its weapons and repatriate back to Rwanda or other places. When the time came in June this year, two disarmament events were held in DR Congo provinces of North and South Kivu. Some 105 were given up for demobilization at an event in Buleusa in the Rutchuru area of North Kivu. Earlier, some 83 combatants had been handed over at Kagogo, in South Kivu.

Now, according to UN research, the militia group commanders were only taking the world for a long ride. Among those released, at least 70% are branded as “Sudists” by their commanders who do not consider them loyal to the FDLR cause, according to the research by United Nations Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC).

“…regional tensions exist within the FDLR between the “Sudists”, that is those from the south, and the “Nordists”, that is those from the north of Rwanda,” says the confidential research document.

According to the study, northerners were from Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Byumba, Kigali and the northern part of Kigali Rurale. Gisenyi, in the northwest, was considered the core of the northern bloc because former Rwanda leader President Juvenal Habyarimana was from there.

For example, FDLR reclusive commander, Gen Sylvestre Mudacumura is also from Gisenyi. According to the 2007 UN study on the same issue, southerners are considered from Kibuye, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gitarama, Butare, Kibungo and southern part of Kigali Rurale; the core area being Gitarama and Butare.

The latest study titled as “confidential” says: “FDLR hierarchy – from Gen Mudacumura down to Col Hamada and Col Job – has progressively filled command functions with northerners and the voluntary disarmament process has handed over mainly lower ranking elements [from the South].”

During the era of President Habyarimana, Sylvestre Mudacumura was his chief escort. When the interahamwe genocide militia escaped to the then Zaire, Mudacumura emerged as their command brain. He would rise up the ranks to be the commander of the group whose members including Mudacumura executed the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.

At present, he calls himself “General”, he has never given any media interview, and there is no single photo of him apart from those taken of Habyarimana in which Mudacumura appears from behind. The International criminal court (ICC), which has indicted him on war crimes and genocide, only has an old passport photo take probably in the 1980s.

Recently, the FDLR named Gaston IYAMUREMYE as its “interim president”. He is the current face of the militia group, as Mudacumura has put himself out of public view so that the group is not seen as commanded by a wanted man.

“General” Gaston IYAMUREMYE, known also as Rumuli; Byiringiro Victor Rumuli; Victor Rumuri; Michel Byiringiro; – is a northerner. He was born in Ruhengeri, which is part of the current Musanze district, northern Rwanda.

“FDLR command has reinforced the northerners by shedding elements from the south of Rwanda,” says the UN study. “If this is the case, then internal cohesion might go up while overall FDLR numbers go down. However, a progressive reliance on northerners will undermine the FDLR’s national agenda.”