Talks to Extradite FDLR Leaders underway
The Government of Rwanda and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, initiated talks on the extradition to Rwanda of FDLR leaders recently arrested by the DRC Army.
La Forge Fils Bazeye, whose real name is Col Nkaka, spokesman for the FDLR, and Lt Col Abega, chief of the intelligence service of this group, which is mainly composed of alleged perpetrators of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, were seized and imprisoned by the Army of the DRC, by the end of last year.
They were seized at the Bunagana border on 15 October 2018 from Kampala where they had participated in the talks aimed at destabilizing the security of Rwanda.
As soon as they were seized, Rwanda expressed the wish for their extradition to their country of origin.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb Nduhungirehe Olivier, told IGIHE that extradition arrangements are underway
“The arrested are in Kinshasa. Talks have begun, “he said.
Only these talks have not reached an advanced level, as the DRC is focused on this election period. Towards the end of the past year, there were indications that the DRC could request, in exchange for the extradition of Bazeye and Abega, that of Laurent Nkunda and former M23 combatants.
One of the senior army officers of the DRC told Jeunne Afrique that his government is not ready to extradite these people in any way.
“It could be that the case of Laurent Nkunda, former leader of the CNDP, currently in Rwanda, and that of former M23 combatants, whose DRC has always requested extradition to answer for their alleged crimes, could be introduced, “said the officer.
