WESTERN PROVINCE
 
RUSIZI – A group of 33 rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) among them officers were on Tuesday repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Rusizi 1 border in Rusizi District.

Immigration officials at the border said the group arrived at around 5:45pm after being repatriated by Congolese army (FARDC). Repatriations have previously been done by the UN mission in Congo (MONUC).

There were massive repatriations of the rebels during the joint Rwanda-DRC military operations early this year.

However, Lt Colonel Bakare Karuma of FARDC who accompanied the group explained that FARDC has undertaken the role of repatriating defecting FDLR rebels without first taking them to MONUC, which he accused of not being keen on repatriating the rebels.

Security authorities at the frontier said the returnees included Captain Atanazi Habinshuti alias Chombe, one Sergeant, a Major, one corporal, four privates, 10 women and 15 children.

Talking to The New Times shortly after their arrival at the border post, Captain Habinshuti explained that they have been living in the areas of Uvura and Mwenga in south Kivu in DRC.

"As a person who has been among senior FDLR rebels still hiding in the jungles of DRC I am really happy to have finally returned to my own country.

There is no any way of surviving there in the forests of Congo without killing of innocent Congolese civilians and looting their properties,” he said.

"What I can add on is that I will do all what I can in collaboration with the government to make sure that others whom we have left behind are also repatriated,” said Captain Habinshuti.

The group is currently at Ntendezi Transit camp but would be taken to Mutobo Demobilisation centre in Northern Province for solidarity camp (Ingando).

The group hails from different parts of the country including Butare, Ruhengeri, Cyangugu and Kicukiro, according to Captain Habinshuti.

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