Editor,

Reference is made to the letter, "Only willing regional forces can pacify eastern DR Congo” (The New Times, January 26).

I agree with the author of this letter; President Kabila cannot shoot himself in the foot. It is a common knowledge that FDLR is used as a kind of private army to deal with Kabila’s problems which have continued to increase. Others involved are using FDLR to exploit the minerals in a proxy fashion.

As for the Monusco, history can testify, right from the time some of us were refugees for over 30 years waiting for UN to repatriate us in vain. We had to go it singlehandedly in 1990.

When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi took place the UN did nothing to stop it until RPA had to do it. It is important to recall that UNSC had been warned of the impeding tragedy by the commander of the UN force in Rwanda. The force was instead scaled town and what resulted was the genocide.

And then later, what did the international community do when Rwandan refugees were held hostage by the genocidal forces in the jungles of Eastern DRC and being consumed by hunger and disease? Once again RPA had to go in and rescue them.

The lawlessness of DR Congo makes it a cash cow for the powerful and FDLR is used by various actors on the ground and, in turn, it (FDLR) uses that opportunity to get spokespersons and allies while it buys time to recruit and reorganise.

About Operation Umoja Wetu, it was so effective it did a severe blow to FDLR and that is why DR Congo had to quickly disband it. Otherwise, the problem of FDLR would have been solved a long time ago

Karemera