NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUTOBO — With the surrender of FDRL rebels, revelations are being made on the desperate conditions under which they endured the past 10 years.  

Corp. Bosco Mbarubukyeye, was based at the FDRL’s headquarters in Kibuwa -Masisi, Zenit Brigade for the last ten years and is now at the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre.
He has since surrendered and recounts his ordeal in the jungle to The New Times.

Excerpts

Qn. Why did you defect after the attack?

Ans. I wanted to return home since 2005, but I waited for an opportune moment when I could safely escape with my wife and children without being noticed by the commander.

I delayed because of reports that there were negotiations with the government of Rwanda aimed at getting us positions in government.

Then, the nature of the jungle and the distance to reach MONUC grounds was terrible. As the joint forces closed in on our base in Kibuwa, commanders started transferring their families and other soldiers demanded to do the same.

There was confusion in the camp, while others were shifting; I decided to cross River Nyabarongo which separates Masisi and Walikale, and reached Hombo which is MONUC’s main base in the area, where I surrendered.

Qn. Having been at war for the last ten years, what has been your experience since surrendering?

Ans. I have not found anything good in the war; my family in Rwanda was at peace, my age mates were settled and happily married, others are in school and when I started receiving their photos and letters that’s when I was convinced that what we were being told by our commanders had no grain of truth.

In DR Congo we had no permanent houses, we were never paid or given facilitation as combatants, we just had to rely on buying uniform from the government forces, and hiring land for agriculture from the Thembo people of Walikale.

Qn. Any advice to those still on the offensive?

Ans. The majority of the young people fighting should know the truth that they can freely come and get reintegrated. They should realise that most of the commanders are running away from their genocide crimes, and trying to keep a strong grip onto the young people.

The war in the Eastern Congo has just created refugee crisis, of both the Rwandans and the Congolese themselves. I believe that the end of fighting will bring peace to all.

As the ongoing joint Rwanda-Congo operation intensifies, more combatants continue to defect and hand themselves over to the UN peacekeeping force in Congo (MONUC) - to be repatriated to Rwanda.

Ends