MONUSCO’s dissociation with armed groups raises more questions

Editor,This is a reaction to the article,” MONUSCO distances self from Congo army, FDLR alliance memo,” published in The New Times, January 31, 2013. Monusco’s (The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Congo) response raises more issues than it resolves. I wish they could respond to these five issues.First, did that document from, Lt Col Rajeev Sharma, not exist or it existed but was tampered with to reflect what Lt Col Rajeev did not intend/include?Second, the only thing that seems new is the memo. The rest is not news. That the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) is operating in the localities of Kishishi, Kibirizi, Bambo, Mubaniro, Sake, Kiroche, Ishasha and Minova, on behalf of or supported by FARDC (the Congolese army), has been reported time and time again. Monusco has not disputed this. Even if they had disputed it, at least they would not dispute FDLR’s existence itself and its active presence in Eastern DRC. In my view the global burden to explain what on earth FDLR is still doing on DRC soil and still a regional threat is squarely upon Monusco.Third, whether Monusco is aware of FARDC’S backing of FDLR or not sounds self-defeating. My take is that Monusco is either aware or ought to be aware; otherwise, why on earth is a 17,000 strong UN force, deployed to pacify and stabilise Eastern DRC, still sitting on DRC’s soil for a decade and still going? Fourth, verifying information with Monusco would have been great. But why does Monusco not come clean on allegations that it is aware of or willfully blind to the FARDC/FDLR relationship? Inner City Press is not the first to say this.Lastly, Monusco condemns such production and dissemination of false information which can only contribute to escalation of tensions and perpetuate violence in the Eastern DRC. This is right. But let me draw from my political science student days and ask this question; which of these two situations contribute more to escalation of tensions and perpetuation of violence in the Eastern DRC; production and dissemination of false information that Monusco is aware of a cosy relationship between FARDC and FDLR or the uncertainty over whether Monusco has failed, refused, ignored, neglected or totally abandoned the issue of neutralising the FDLR threat to DRC, to Rwanda and to the Great Lakes Region, generally?Hope, Mile 40 Nyamirambo

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MONUSCO’s dissociation with armed groups raises more questions