UN reaffirms call for FDLR's neutralisation

The United Nations Security Council, yesterday, reiterated their call for the neutralisation of the outlawed FDLR in line with the Council’s earlier position on forceful disarmament of the group if they do not surrender by January 2. The Security Council members further called on all parties to cooperate and remain committed to the full implementation of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DR Congo (Monusco) mandate. In a statement issued by the Council, they also condemned attacks on Monusco peacekeepers, saying any efforts to undermine the mission’s ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated and that those responsible for threats or attacks against the peacekeepers will be held accountable. The Security Council further condemned the massacres perpetrated against civilians about a week ago near the city of Beni in North Kivu. The massacre brought the number of civilians killed in the region to more than 200 since mid-October. “It is of utmost importance that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Monusco, in accordance with its mandate in Security Council resolution 2147 (2014), permanently reduce threats against civilians, immediately redouble efforts to provide proactive protection of civilians and neutralise armed groups still operating in eastern DRC,” the statement read in part. The Security Council’s remarks come days after a revelation by a non-governmental organisation’s report, Enough Project, that FDLR, rather than disarm, as promised, was in the process of building military alliances with several other militias in eastern DR Congo. The report said aware of oncoming attacks, the militia was currently focused on reorganising itself by generating income to buy weapons, mobilising political support in an attempt to gain legitimacy and alliance-building and recruitment. The report estimated that the group’s trade worth is estimated to be $32 million per year (about Rwf22 billion) mainly from trading gold through North Kivu and Uganda and by illegally producing and trading charcoal from Virunga National Park. FDLR is largely blamed for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which claimed the lives of a million people.

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UN reaffirms call for FDLR's neutralisation