Subscribe by rss
    Thursday 21 January, 2021
    Rwanda News
      • Home
      • National
      • Politics
      • Regional
      • Magazines
      • OP&ED
    Published On: Tue, Oct 14th, 2014
    Block3--ibikorwa-regional / English / featured1 | By gahiji

    MONUSCO set to hit FDLR

    MONUSCO

    The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco) appears to be on the verge of a military offensive to eliminate the FDLR militia in Eastern Congo. Monusco Commander Lt-Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz told the UN Security Council last week

    The UN organ commander said he believes that Congolese civilians can be effectively protected only through “proactive” operations against armed groups.

    He asserted that offensive action on the part of Monusco’s combat brigade is consistent with international law despite risks of “collateral damage.”

    “I am absolutely convinced that the best way to protect civilians is being proactive rather than reactive,” Lt-Gen Santos Cruz declared. “Civilian protection is far more than text in a mandate; it is a moral duty.”

    The FDLR, which is accused of slaughtering and raping civilians in eastern DRC, consists largely of militia who fled Rwanda after carrying out the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

    The Brazilian general’s October 9 remarks followed an October 3 UN Security Council call for the “swift neutralisation” of the FDLR, the French acronym for the Democratic Force for the Liberation of Rwanda.

    Noting that no progress has recently been made in the surrender and demobilisation of FDLR fighters, the Security Council urged Monusco and the Congolese armed forces to “undertake military action” against leaders and members of the group who do not comply with UN demands.

    In a statement issued three months prior to the UN deadline for FDLR disarmament, the Security Council ruled out any political dialogue with the rebel group.

    The Council said it was assessing FDLR’s compliance in concrete terms, including the number of fighters and leaders surrendering and weapons handed over.

    Rwanda has been at the forefront of demands by some UN member states that Monusco launch military action against the FDLR following an offensive last year that eliminated another rebel group known as M23.

    That was the first time in the UN’s 70-year history that its military deployment had initiated combat as part of a peacekeeping mandate. A 2013 UNSC resolution established a 3,000-member Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) within Monusco.

    The United States has echoed Rwanda’s insistence that the FDLR must be destroyed. Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, last week praised Lt-Gen Santos Cruz’s proactive approach.

    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

    • Tribert Rujugiro: The Story of the Rwandan Billionaire
    • Rwanda Seeks Russian Help to Stop UN Freeing Key Genocide Convicts
    • Rwanda Bypasses Uganda for its own Standard Gauge Railway Line
    • Unknown son of Gen Fred GISA Rwigema reappears after 24 years
    • Israel Joins Rwanda to Demand France Acts on Genocide Suspects

    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