DRC soldiers beheaded by FDLR rebels, army denounces terrorism

The Congolese armed forces reported on Saturday, February 16, 2019, that two soldiers were beheaded by Rwandan rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), during military operations, a week ago, in the locality of ‘Itabi, in Masisi territory (North Kivu).

“On February 8, 2019, during a surprise attack by the FDLR (FOCA) on one of our defensive positions in Itabi, east of Kabalakasha locality, still in Masisi territory, the latter (FDLR) beheaded two of our soldiers before taking away the head of one of them, “says the army in a statement.

The FARDC denounce the establishment of terrorism by the FDLR in the areas under their control.

They accuse another branch of the FDLR (CNRD) to use their dependents as a human shield, during the fighting in early February, in the localities of Faringa and Gasaki (Masisi).

In a mid-term review of the operation against armed groups, the army claimed on 4 February that it had killed some 50 militiamen within a month in Masisi territory.

Military operations against armed groups in Masisi territory recall the correspondence of Defense Minister Crispin Atama Tabe to MONUSCO boss Leila Zerrougui, who spoke of the displacement of FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) combatants ), from Masisi to South Kivu, to form a coalition to attack Rwanda from the DRC.

Mr. Atama thus requested the support of the UN mission forces to the FARDC to counteract the “macabre project”.

But, MONUSCO excludes any armed attack against FDLR which, according to Zerrougui, are accompanied by “families and children” but privileges the option of disarmament.