The Minister for Defence, James Kabarebe, has told Members of Parliament that one of the major threats posed by the FDLR is the spreading of genocide ideology.

The FDLR is a terrorist outfit with bases in neighboring DRC. The militia largely comprises individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

While the FDLR have sporadically orchestrated attacks in Rwanda, the minister said their military threat to the country is not as worrisome as their intent to continue spreading genocide ideology.

"FDLR is not a threat to Rwanda in terms of military might and capacity. However, the assessment we have is that their tactic of disseminating genocide ideology among Rwandans could be a major security threat, not only to Rwanda but to the entire region,” Kabarebe said, adding that the existence of genocide ideology undermines national and regional peace and security.

Minister Kabarebe was appearing before the parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security where he had been invited to shed light on the state of national security and territorial integrity.

The minister said one of the reasons why the FDLR have intensified the spreading of genocide ideology is the fact that their hopes of a successful military attack against Rwanda are slim.

The failure by FDLR to launch a conventional military campaign has rather made them resort to terrorist acts as well as spreading genocide ideology, which does not need powerful armory and large number of fighters, Kabarebe said.

"Secondly, the political system in Rwanda that has allowed most of the militia men and the rest who would have joined the terror group [from refugee camps in Eastern DR Congo] to rather return home, further weakened the terrorist group,” he added.

"Their tactics or terrorism requires a few mutineers to carry out such insurgencies. This reflects two things; military weaknesses and cruel intentions,” the minister told the legislators.

Several grenade attacks across the country last year killed at least 20 innocent people and injured 460 others, Kabarebe said.

He pointed out that the FDLR and their partners that include the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) are responsible for the 36 grenade attacks between December 2009 and January 2014.

"It is possible that this terror tactic could be an idea owned by RNC, using FDLR to execute the mission,” Kabarebe added.

Legislators raised concerns over what is being done by national security organs to counter such acts of terrorism.

Kabarebe said although it is difficult to completely eliminate such terrorists, local security bodies, through the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) that comprises the RDF, Rwanda National Police and intelligence services have been successful in tracking down the terror cells and bringing suspects to book.

The minister attributed JOC’s success to the public that collaborated in sharing information regarding the suspects.

Kabarebe blamed DR Congo for harbouring FDLR for the past 20 years.

"It is as if DR Congo is not concerned with what would undermine Rwanda’s security,” he told the MPs.

International inaction against FDLR

While various international actors, including the UN, gave the FDLR up to January 2, to voluntarily disarm or face military action, nothing has so far been done, a month later.

"They (the international community) have given strong statements regarding launching military action against FDLR but they have not done it. I do not think they will do it, because they do not see FDLR as a threat to them,” Minister Kabarebe said.

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