WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Four Congolese soldiers who had deserted and fled to Rwanda during the close of the year 2008  were last Friday repatriated.

Corporal Zokoyi Alfred, Corporal Chibangu Kabura, Sergeant Hakizimana Theophille, and Corporal Nuru Matabaro Eric, were handed over to Congolese officials by the Rubavu District Immigration Authorities.

They were received by DR Congo officials Colonel Augustine Mamba and Francine Obongani, the DRC Immigration Principal Commissar.

The quartet was reportedly arrested from the Rwandan territory last year while fleeing the November 2008 clashes between Congolese rebels CNDP, and government forces.

While officially handing over the group, Vincent Sengiyunva of Rwanda migrations office at the DR Congo border explained that the repatriation was part of the Rwanda government commitment to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region, by mending relations with DRC.

"One of them was arrested with an AKA 47 machine gun with 31 bullets, we have handed them over to DRC with all their belongings and in good conditions. Its up to the DRC authorities to determine their fate, our role in this was to show cooperation by sending them back home,” he said.

Obongani, thanked the Rwandan government for the good treatment they accorded the arrested soldiers.

"One can judge from their physical appearance that they were treated well during their detention in Rwanda,” she remarked.

Corporal Chibangu, one of the deserters, gave a brief account of their stay in Rwanda in which he said they had received fair treatment during their detention at the Rubavu Military Third Division headquarters.

"Although we were considered criminals, we were given a fair treatment and I thank the Rwandan government for that because the first thing that came into my mind shortly after the arrest was that Rwandan soldiers would torture and probably kill me,” he said.

In a similar development, DRC troops last week captured and handed over a 38 year-old FDRL soldier identified as Jean Baptist Ndahizeye to Rwanda. He was captured January 20 from Kibati between Ruchuru and Goma by DRC troops.

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