FDLR returnees increase amid Rwanda-DRC offensive

• MONUC sets up hotline for those willing to surrender GOMA – The United Nation’s Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – MONUC – affirmed early Saturday that there have been an unprecedented and, growing number of rebel FDLR elements returning home willingly. This was said by Bruno Donat, the Officer in Charge of MONUC’s Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reinstallation and Reintegration (DDRRR) programme in a press brief “situation” news conference at the DDRRR Headquarters. “Recently we are seeing numbers going up and, especially very recently,” he said, though he could not say whether the current joint Rwanda-DRC military offensive against Rwandan ex-Far/Interahamwe elements could be part of the reason. “The majority were FDLR and their dependents. As we speak, I have, in South Kivu, sixty four of them in DDRRR trucks ready for repatriation.” “Today in our camp here we have thirty seven. We are screening them and we are getting information that there are more on the way,” he added, emphasizing that the majority are usually FDLR. Donat however, seemed cautious not to immediately draw a parallel with the on-going military offensive. He underlined that he really did not know whether this is an indication but acknowledged that “the growth is more than we have seen before.” DRC’s Col. Augustin Mamba, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Operations Centre, and Maj. Vincent Nyakarundi, a staff officer at the joint operations headquarters in Goma attended the press briefing. MONUC recently agreed to provide operation Umoja Wetu - the joint military offensive - with logistical support. Colonel Mamba stressed that all the means to get “these people back to their country are welcome, to allow Rwanda and DRC to develop in peace.” He insisted that military operations would not cease and that if the rebels went further into DRC. “We will pursue them wherever they go,” he warned. Other agencies like the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have also been brought in for more coordination. The UNHCR has for long been involved in repatriating Rwandans from DRC and, when contacted, they confirmed the recent sudden returnee upsurge. “Yes, that is very true. For now, we have very many people here who have applied at our offices requesting to be repatriated. They are more than before,” David Nthengwe UNHCR External Relations Officer said in a late phone interview. Nthengwe explained that they too were in the process of “putting figures together” so as to get the exact picture. • More assembling centres and a 24 hour hotline Apart from wider coordination, Donat stressed that as a means to repatriate more FDLR, they are opening more centres “to those who want to come out of the bushes.” “Currently, in North Kivu I have nine points for receiving FDLRmembers and their families.” These he said were in Goma, Kanyabayonga, Masisi, Rutshuru, Lubero and Beni. In addition, DDRRR is opening three new centres – Nyamirima, Ishasha and Pinga. “We are mobilizing mobile teams to be ready within five hours and be able to reach FDLR.” In the Province of South Kivu, the “welcoming” centres have also been elected at Bukavu, Sange and Bunyakili. This will be further reinforced by a round-the-clock (24 hour) hotline. “We are also opening a call centre, a hotline from now so that anyone who wants to get out can use it. It is going to be monitored by MONUC-DDRRR,” Donat told reporters, stressing that the press should spread the message. “We are giving you (reporters) the numbers for the centres too because it is the time to help people come out and disarm voluntarily.” Ends