Following accounts by former rebels who have since surrendered following the launch of the joint operation between the Rwanda Defence Forces and the DR Congo army, it leaves nothing to tell but that the ‘hey days’ of the insurgents are over.

Jean Baptiste Ndayizeye, among others, who were part of the militia’s intelligence operatives, regret what they have been doing in the Congolese jungles for the past 15 years. He is among many others who have seen the light and surrendered.

He however makes, revelations on the operations of the FDLR leadership, which exposes their insidious plan to maintain a total blackout between the remaining rebels under their control and developments at home (Rwanda).

By denying them information on the repatriation process, the remaining FDLR leaders believe they can keep captive those in their command to eternity. However, the rise in numbers of those surrendering shatters this way of thinking.

Ndayizeye says they did know what was happening in Rwanda because their leaders told them that they would be killed upon their arrival.

They are denied access to any means of communication, in as much as those who have found freedom would want to reach out for their other colleagues roaming the jungles, this is a tall order.

These commanders and other forces still holding allegiance to them will not remain a regional problem for long as it has already been witnessed, not only are they quickly losing foot soldiers, much ground has also been taken over by the joint forces, with most of their bases destroyed.

In the concerted effort local politicians have joined the calls for the surrender of the rebels. It is a good development that even Members of the DR Congo parliament have joined the operation by encouraging the residents of the areas formerly occupied by the rebels to resist against the FDLR.

But as it goes, better late than never and no more will these innocent Congolese civilians pay ‘taxes’ to these elements responsible for the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the century, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The MONUC, which is the UN Mission in the DR Congo, should also play an observing role in what is taking place because of what has been achieved in these two weeks, they could not do for almost a decade with dozens of billions of dollars already spent on the mission.

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