March 28, 2024

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Rwanda’s Paul Kagame expresses readiness to support DRC Operations to Uproot Militia

RDF Soldier during a training

 

By: Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has welcomed DR Congo’s move to pursue militia groups in their territory saying that Rwanda has always hoped for efforts to deal with this particular security threat.

If called to assist, President Kagame expressed his readiness to provide necessary support.

President Kagame was speaking during the news conference at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura yesterday ahead of the celebration of National Liberation Day to take place on 4th July, 2019.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) leader said on Sunday he had ordered the army to launch a “large-scale” operation against armed groups in the restive east after the killings of scores of civilians.

“I’ve ordered our armed forces to carry out large-scale operations in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi” in the volatile Ituri province, President Felix Tshisekedi said on Sunday in the capital Kinshasa.

He added that the offensive would extend to South Kivu province to put a “definite end” to the dozens of militias roaming the lawless, mineral-rich region, where millions of lives were lost in a 1998-2003 war.

The instability has forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes, the UN refugee agency has said, with people escaping unrest in Djugu territory especially.

At least 160 civilians have died in Ituri since June 10, according to local authorities who blame the Ngudjolo militia for the violence.

The army announced last week it had taken control of the group’s stronghold in an offensive backed by the UN peacekeeping mission Monusco.

In Sunday’s speech, Tshisekedi said his government had devised a plan for the “complete eradication” of foreign armed groups, in collaboration with Monusco and neighbouring countries affected by the violence, particularly Uganda and Rwanda.

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