The New Times (Kigali) Government Supporting Daily

Rwanda, DRC Approve Joint Operation Plan Against FDLR

Kigali — Rwanda's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. James Kabarebe together with his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart Gen. Didier Etumba, have endorsed a Joint Military Operation Plan against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the ex-Far/Interahamwe, the military spokesperson has revealed.

Gen Kabarebe was in Kinshasa late last week to meet with his Congolese counterpart to discuss the modalities of how both parties can finally implement the Joint Plan to uproot negative forces in the volatile eastern DRC.

"The two Force commanders endorsed the plan which implies that its implementation takes immediate effect," explained military spokesperson Maj. Jill Rutaremara.

While in the DRC, Gen. Kabarebe also met Congolese President Joseph Kabila and the UN's Special Envoy, former President Olusegun Obasanjo,  - they are said to have discussed resolutions to the conflict engulfing the Eastern DRC, and how the negative forces can be suppressed.

Kabarebe's meeting with Etumba is a follow up of last December's Joint Defence Ministers' meeting that was held in the western Province town of Rubavu (formerly Gisenyi).

Rutaremara declined to reveal details of the operation plan explaining that the details of the operation would be disclosed at the right time.

He however added that the Military High Commands from both countries opted to use force to eliminate negative forces and disarm them since the diplomatic way did not seem to be working.

The Joint Military Operation Plan was endorsed after a two-day bilateral meeting by the countries' Foreign Affairs Ministers on December 5 last year in the DRC border town of Goma.

The plan aims at routing out from the Congo, FDLR and ex-FAR/Interahamwe militia, remnants of those who spearheaded the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis that claimed the lives of over one million people.


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Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment

  • BRAVEHEART
    Jan 14 2009, 13:37

    fighting the FDLR is not the solution for the future of all rwandans,rwandan govt must know jk

  • sethmpundu
    Jan 15 2009, 14:43

    Rwanda is not seeking for a solution, Rwanda wants away that provides them to steal minerals from Congo.

    Mai mai and FDLR is not a problem, Congo itself can manage to deal with it.

  • Peacemaker
    Jan 19 2009, 16:30

    Military operation will never provide lastng peace in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Dictator Paul Kagame should make a political compromise with his exile opposition political parties otherways the Rwanda soon or later will be Somalia of the Great Lakes of Africa.

    The RPF regime is heating the ethnic hatred among the Rwandans which will only result in the worse bloody war in Rwanda. Solving the political problems by gun, I think is the naive decision Kagame continue to think of. Kagame should remember that the same cause produce the same problem. There is no doubt Rwanda is heading to bloody conflict. I wish if I had power I could prevent it. Peace for All.