DR Congo Launches Strikes Against FDLR Hutu Rebels
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has launched its first strikes as part of a long-awaited offensive against Rwandan Hutu rebels. Min...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2015/02/dr-congo-launches-strikes-against-fdlr.html?m=0
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has launched its first strikes as part of a long-awaited offensive against Rwandan Hutu rebels.
Ministers had previously pledged to target the FDLR militants after they failed to meet a deadline to disarm last month.
Some FDLR leaders have been linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Their presence in DR Congo has been a key factor behind two decades of conflict in the region.
Rwanda, led by a Tutsi-dominated government, has twice invaded its neighbour demanding that the FDLR be disarmed.
'International responsibility'
The UN mission in DR Congo recently withdrew its support for the offensive because it involved two government generals accused of human rights abuses.
Tuesday's attack took place in the South Kivu province, about 10km (six miles) from the border with Burundi, the military said.
However, a source with the rebels told the BBC they had been informed of the attack in advance and had already withdrawn.
DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende confirmed that troops had not met any resistance when they captured an FDLR position.
Speaking as army chiefs launched their assault, the outgoing US special envoy to the region said the government "owe[d] it to its people" to end the threat posed by Rwandan Hutu rebels, AFP news agency reports.
Russ Feingold said extinguishing the threat was an "international responsibility", according to the agency.
Some of the FDLR leaders have been accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 800,000 people - largely from the Tutsi minority - were killed.
A Tutsi-led government subsequently took power in Rwanda, while Hutu rebel leaders fled across the border into DR Congo (then known as Zaire).
As well as sending troops into DR Congo, Rwanda has been accused of providing military and financial support to a succession of Tutsi-led armed groups in eastern DR Congo, using them as proxies to attack the FDLR.
Rwanda has always denied these accusations.
Source: BBC Africa
Ten weapons have been seized, he said.
Ministers had previously pledged to target the FDLR militants after they failed to meet a deadline to disarm last month.
Some FDLR leaders have been linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Their presence in DR Congo has been a key factor behind two decades of conflict in the region.
Rwanda, led by a Tutsi-dominated government, has twice invaded its neighbour demanding that the FDLR be disarmed.
'International responsibility'
The UN mission in DR Congo recently withdrew its support for the offensive because it involved two government generals accused of human rights abuses.
Tuesday's attack took place in the South Kivu province, about 10km (six miles) from the border with Burundi, the military said.
However, a source with the rebels told the BBC they had been informed of the attack in advance and had already withdrawn.
DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende confirmed that troops had not met any resistance when they captured an FDLR position.
Speaking as army chiefs launched their assault, the outgoing US special envoy to the region said the government "owe[d] it to its people" to end the threat posed by Rwandan Hutu rebels, AFP news agency reports.
Russ Feingold said extinguishing the threat was an "international responsibility", according to the agency.
Some of the FDLR leaders have been accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 800,000 people - largely from the Tutsi minority - were killed.
A Tutsi-led government subsequently took power in Rwanda, while Hutu rebel leaders fled across the border into DR Congo (then known as Zaire).
As well as sending troops into DR Congo, Rwanda has been accused of providing military and financial support to a succession of Tutsi-led armed groups in eastern DR Congo, using them as proxies to attack the FDLR.
Rwanda has always denied these accusations.
Source: BBC Africa
Ten weapons have been seized, he said.
