The New Times (Kigali) Government Supporting Daily

Congo-Kinshasa: Spain, France on the Spot Over FDLR Links

Refugee women from the Democratic Republic of Congo wash clothing at a camp. (Photo Courtesy Judith Basutama/IRIN)

Kigali — The UN's Eminent Group of Expert report on rebel militias in the DRC is expected to reveal Spanish and French connections to the FDLR militia, The New Times has been informed.

The group of experts is said to have earlier sent correspondences to several countries seeking information on the FDLR support network.

In Spain, the correspondences sought information on Spanish nationals allegedly supporting the 'terrorist group' but Spanish authorities are believed to have leaked the correspondence, in an attempt to pre-empt investigations.

An insider within the group of experts, speaking on condition of anonymity, recently told The New Times that the report is likely to "put to light the double language and inconsistencies of some in the international community."

"The experts asked Spain and France to provide telephone contacts and other information - did they cooperate? Let's wait and see what the report says," a source speaking on condition of anonymity said Tuesday.

Spanish nationals implicated here include Juan Carrero Saralegui, head of the S'Olivar Foundation and some 'white fathers' who it is alleged continue to work closely with other anti-Rwanda NGOs, in supporting FDLR.

"It is this network that has been recruiting people to travel to Arusha to testify in favour of genocide suspects."

It is also reliably believed that the Spanish FDLR network also includes the Brothers of Charity in Tanzania, Burundi and in eastern DRC.

"They are all coordinated by Juan Cassoliva who is based in Kigoma and regularly makes trips to the Great Lakes Region, especially to Burundi and Uvira," the source revealed.

"Funds received by S'Olivar are basically used to support FDLR and in supporting efforts of the Spanish lawyer in the case against Rwanda."

Juan Cassoliva is allegedly among those behind www.inshuti.org, an anti-Rwanda website.

When contacted Wednesday, Juan Manuel González, the Tanzania-based Spanish Ambassador to Rwanda, said that his country cooperated with the UN experts, but could not reveal more as he said he was ill, and in hospital in Spain.

"Yes of course, but I am in hospital and I can't speak much now - call the embassy in Tanzania," Ambassador González said referring this reporter to his charge d'Affaires in Tanzania, who unfortunately, could not be reached on phone.

The final report of the Group of Experts on the DRC is expected to be presented by the Security Council today.


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Comments 1 to 5 of 5 Post a comment

  • forstar
    Nov 19 2009, 04:15

    Well well well. The world has finally walked up and seen the truth.

  • didier_2000
    Nov 19 2009, 05:11

    The UN's Eminent Group of Experts is a group of merceneries full of greed simply seeking to pockets millions of dollars offered by US lobbies pro-FPR to whoever accepts to contribute to UN support to the criminal regime of kagame and his FPR inkotanyi.

    However all those attempts by RPF regime and the UN that has became a rubish organisaton supportint criminals are a clear evidence that the kigali regime is at its last agony and its end is near. UN must not confuse RWANDA with the RPF.This will vanish soon but RWANDA will last forever. Opposing RPF is not being the ennemy of RWANDA. We will win. LIKE IT OR NOT. TUZATSINDA,

  • natsircas
    Nov 20 2009, 18:37

    I am surprised to see state propaganda in a news agency so serious like allAfrica.com. To reproduce articles like this one coming from New Times – Rwanda questions allafrica.com credibility. I am anyhow comforted to know that there are not many gullible Africans that swallow all this make-believe state propaganda.

  • forstar
    Nov 21 2009, 04:25

    The world no longer tolerates machette wielding thugs. Next to yield to international pressure will be France. Mark my words and watch this space. Delusional muppets.

  • foryohjonathan0000
    Nov 22 2009, 21:40

    Just what Ex-President Obasanjor said; 95% of the dirty things that is/are happening in Africa such as civil wars, Europeans are responsible for that. But we "Africans" need not to blame them solely because some of our stupid and blinded brothers and sisters cooperate and work with them to creat those disasters on the countinent just because of creed. What a SHAME to those so call Africans who are destroying their own brothers and sisters just for mediocre aids and money from the Rich Racist White Europeans. Oh Africa, when are some of your children going to stop being drastically stupid.

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