DRC forces overrun FDLR stronghold

GOMA - Congolese troops backed by air and artillery fire captured the headquarters of FDLR in Lubero, North Kivu after two days of intense fighting, while more villagers have fled their homes, Congolese military officials said. The massive assault will not end until the rebel forces have accepted to surrender, Capt. Ceaser Alimasi, the Deputy Spokesperson of the operation said. The operation, code named ‘Operation Kimia II’ is being mounted by DRC national army (FARDC) with the help of UN mission in Congo, MONUC. FARDC announced Wednesday that the fiercest battle so far ended with the capture of the Fatuwa garrison. “We are happy we seized the Fatuwa base and we have killed a big number of their fighters while some have been captured. The operation will continue until all armed groups have surrendered,” said Alimasi. Also seized, were agricultural and mining fields, which the rebels exploited. “We always advised them to go back to Rwanda because there is peace but they keep on listening to lies by (Ignace) Murwanashyaka and Mudacumura,” Based in Germany, Murwanashyaka is the the political leader of the FDLR, while Mudacumura heads the military wing of the rebel force that is largely comprised of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The operation also saw the capture of a FDLR Major who was only identified as John and a number of his soldiers. The officer was arrested in his hideout at Ndolera by FARDC and he is now in custody at the operation’s coordination centre at Kavumu. Speaking to The New Times on phone, Lt Col Jean-Paul DIETRICH, Chief Military Public Information Officer at MONUC headquarters based in DRC capital Kinshasa confirmed that the senior officer was arrested over the weekend. Ends

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DRC forces overrun FDLR stronghold