Kigali — FDLR-FOCA rebels have become well-entrenched in the South and North Kivu provinces of eastern DR Congo and have developed diversified sources of financing that can keep them going for years, UN investigators have reported.

The rebels under the banner Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda-Forces combattantes abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA) are said to control mineral rich areas where they massively export deposits for revenue and arms. FDLR is the political arm and the FOCA stand in as the military wing.

According to a report by five experts for the UN Security Council, the FDLR-FOCA control cassiterite deposits north of Lulingu, in Shabunda region (South Kivu), in Nyabiondo, Walikale region (North Kivu), and in Lemera (South Kivu). They also manage gold deposits in Kilembwe (South Kivu).

These minerals are transported to general collection points near the mining deposits. The output is typically transported by road and air by comptoirs (buying houses) to their headquarters, many of which are located in Goma and Bukavu - capitals of North Kivu and South Kivu respectively.

To export the minerals, according to the investigators, the rebels use mainly boats on numerous rivers and particular routes such as Kanvinvira-Uvira-Bukavu-Hombo-Itebero-Kibua and Uvira-Kilembwe (South Kivu), as well as Ishasha-Nyabiondo-Remeka-Kibua, Ishasha-Nyabiondo-Kimua-Kibua Ishasha-Nyabiondo-Kishanga, Ishasha-Nyabiondo-Pinga, Kasindi-Butembo-Lubero-Kasuo, Kasindi-Butembo-Lubero-Kasuo-Ikore-Pinga-Nyabiondo (North Kivu).

The investigators say the militias, who number between 7000 and 9000, have introduced taxes paid by traders at six roadblocks along Shabunda-Bukavu road. Traders in Shabunda reported that, as a result, commodity costs were 'sufficiently prohibitive' and that it was less expensive to transport goods by air, despite high air freight tariffs.

Markets in areas under the control of FDLR-FOCA, including Kibua, and Nyabiondo in North Kivu, Kahungwe, Sange and Kilembwe in South Kivu, are by order required to pay taxes.

Civilian associates of FDLR-FOCA produce a range of agricultural goods, including cannabis, both for their and the militia's own subsistence needs and for sale at regional markets, the 35-page report indicates.

FDLR-FOCA and its civilian associates exploit timber in Pinga territory, they poach hippopotamuses for both meat and ivory in areas under its control along Lake Albert in Lubero, as well as periodically steal and loot from civilians.

To keep their war machine intact, the rebels that according to the authorities in Kigali are blamed for the Genocide in Rwanda, the UN investigators say they have "smuggling networks" that provide a constant flow of arms. The experts say there are "strong indications that there are close links between some FARDC (DRC army) elements and FDLR-FOCA".

These links, as the report shows include individual FARDC elements providing arms to FDLR-FOCA fighters and ad hoc revenue-sharing arrangements between FARDC elements and FDLR-FOCA. The militias apparently use "old" AK-47s, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, 60/81/120 mm mortars and automatic machine guns.

The networks also smuggle goods ranging from household and electrical appliances to minerals, drugs, ivory and weapons. These goods enter and circulate within Congo by both land and lake routes. According to the investigators, the 17.000 strong UN Mission in DRC (MONUC) lacks radar detection and land-based mobile patrol teams to assist lake surveillance units.

The DRC government for its part reported that its does not have sufficient customs storage and inspection facilities for tracking any such flows. The report affirms that there may not be any policy of cooperation between government and the rebels.

The UN investigators detail that the rebels keep their numbers by heavily recruiting children forcefully. The FDLR-FOCA also operates as part of an "informal network of armed groups".

The partner militias formed recently, according to the report are Coalition of Congolese Patriotic Resistance (PARECO) - that apparently has bases near the FDLR-FOCA high command. There is the "Rastas", a brutal gang-raping group that wears American football jerseys and brandish dreadlocks.

The FDLR-FOCA has links with the Rally for Unity and Democracy-Urunana (RUD- Urunana) politically headed by Jean-Marie Vianney Higiro and Felicien Kanyamibwa, and the military commander Jean Damascene Ndibabaje (nicknamed Musare), all wanted in Kigali on Genocide.

RUD- Urunana broke links with the FDLR in 2004 and has denied any connection to the FDLR or even being in command of armed wing. But according to the investigators, some combatants claim that they belong to RUD-Urunana. (End)