Africa-Press – Rwanda. Finding a solution to the threat posed by the genocidal FDLR militia has to be “an integral element” of peace efforts in eastern DR Congo, US President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos has said.
Blacklisted by both the United Nations and the United States as a terrorist organisation, FDLR is part of DR Congo government’s coalition in the ongoing conflict against the AFC/M23 rebel movement.
Boulos, who visited Rwanda as part of a regional our that also took him to DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda this month, said the FDLR, a group founded by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, featured in his discussions with President Paul Kagame on April 8.
“We definitely discussed the FDLR and the risk in question,” Boulos said on Thursday at a virtual briefing on the outcome of his African tour, which ended on April 14.
“And this is a major element of any peace accord. If you look at all the peace initiatives, this is the key element from the Rwandan side and it’s an integral part of any upcoming peace accord, initiative or agreement.”
For years, Rwanda has raised its concerns about the Congolese government’s collaboration with the FDLR and the group’s integration into the Congolese military coalition that is hostile to Rwanda.
The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels, who now control two major cities in the east.
Kigali dismisses these allegations, saying it has only taken legitimate defensive measures to prevent any Kinshasa-backed FDLR or FARDC (DR Congo army) coalition incursions and President Felix Tshisekedi’s repeated threats to attack Rwanda from materialising.
Accused of targeting and spreading genocide ideology against the Congolese Tutsi communities, the FDLR is part of the Congolese coalition fighting the AFC/M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, and some of its some of its commanders have been captured in battle and handed to Rwanda by the AFC/M23 in recent months.
The rebels also accuse Kinshasa of ethnic cleansing and say they are fighting for the safety and rights of Rwandophone and other oppressed Congolese communities, especially in the east of the country.
Eastern DR Congo has seen recurring conflict for three decades, dating back to 1994 when then Zairean government of Mobutu Sese Seko offered sanctuary and supported extremist groups and members of the former Rwandan army that committed the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
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Boulos, who also met with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and William Ruto of Kenya, noted that the Trump administration supported regional initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern DR Congo peacefully.
He said the threat posed by FDLR was discussed in his engagements with Kagame and Tshisekedi.
“We’ve been engaging with both parties and this is one of the main elements of those discussions,” he said.
“There are solutions – we are not reinventing the wheel here. There are solutions and terms that have previously been drafted and agreed upon by both parties and we will continue working with them towards that.
“Our role and commitment is to ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in question, not just one country or two, but all that are involved. Everybody has to be at ease and feel comfortable with the terms and safe from any such threats, whether they are actual or perceived or any future threats,” he said, in response to a question from The New Times.
Both Kinshasa and AFC/M23 have in recent days sent delegates to Doha for historic direct talks, a development which was welcomed by the Trump advisor. Both parties have largely kept silent on how the first round of dialogue went, and the rebels have accused Kinshasa of sanctioning attacks on their positions despite the ongoing talks. President Tshisekedi had previously rejected engaging in peace talks with the group.
Meanwhile, the top US Africa envoy said he and his delegation also discussed a possible minerals deal with the Congolese government, adding that Kinshasa had promised reforms that would cater for American investor concerns. He did not offer further details. Boulos said his visit sought to secure US interests and to promote economic ties with countries in the region.
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