Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) – At least 105 fighters from the Rwandan Hutu rebel Democratic Forces for Rwanda Liberation (FDLR) voluntarily laid down their arms before surrendering to the peacekeeping forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), currently operating under the aegis of the UN in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to reports, some 7,000 Rwandan Hutu rebels should lay down weapons to join the process to neutralize all negative forces operating in eastern DRC backed by the UN since last year after another rebel group, called M23, including particularly Congolese of Rwandophone expression, announced they have put an end to any rebel activity against the Kinshasa regime.
The surrender comes at a time when the Kigali officials have expressed the will to facilitate the process of voluntary repatriation of all rebel fighters (FDLR).
Operating in eastern DRC for 20 years, the FDLR, including several elements suspected to have taken part in the 1994 genocide in their country, are regarded as one of the main sources of insecurity in the Great Lakes region.
Photo: Ryot
