Simeon Manirakiza (left) with a fellow FDLR ex-combatant after returning to Rwanda
Former members of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have revealed that a section of International Non-governmental Organisations operating in the Democratic Republic of (DRC) are secretly providing logistical and financial support to FDLR fighters.
Last year, the United Nations Security Council declared FDLR a group under UN sanctions because its leaders and members are perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The Security Council also accused FDLR fighters of killings in Rwanda and democratic Republic of Congo.
In an exclusive interview with this website, a section of former FDLR fighters, now reintegrated at Mutobo camp in Musanze District, Northern Province, revealed some NGOs operating in DRC have continued to provide financial and logistical support to FDLR leaders and fighters.
“They fund FDLR operations and provide logistics when FDLR leaders want them,” Simeon Maniranzi a former FDLR combatant told Kigali Today.
Manirakiza who lived in Rubaya refugee camp in Masisi, Eastern DRC, returned back to Rwanda this Month. He revealed that the camp accommodates 200 FDLR fighters, and they are catered for by these NGOs. He says that the NGOs provide food and transport means to FDLR fighters in order to survive.
He reveals that Partnership for Change-an NGO operating in DRC is the key provider of all financial and logistical support needed by FDLR fighters.
“All these FDLR fighters cannot dream of returning back to Rwanda. They get everything they want from Partnership for Change which funds all FDLR operations in the area. The NGO provides food and vehicles that transport FDLR fighters,” said the 21-year-old Maniranzi.
According to Maniranzi, they camped at Rubaya refugee camp after defecting from FDLR base in Mufuro, Kibowa in Masisi after being moved out of Katoyi in 2013. He said that they all arrived at Rubaya refugee camp to start working in mining sites.
“There are over 200 Rwandans at this refugee camp. They work in mineral sites but get all financial support and food from Partners for Change,” he says.
According to Maniranzi, all FDLR fighters camped at Rubaya refugee camp were under the command of Cpt. Bobe Kije, a military assistant to Col.Kome.
The Ex-combatant, who acknowledges to have worked in FDLR’s Mangeri military base in Masisi, in Northern Kivu Province said that Capt. Bobe’s fighters are charged with controlling and maintaining security of the refugee camp since there is no Congolese army in the area.
“All control and command of the area is done by FDLR’s Capt. Bobe. You cannot find Congolese army (FARDC) in the area. It’s only Capt. Bobe who leads and organizes security operations in this place while the NGO (Partners for Change) provides other needed support,” he said.
Other NGOs implicated
Newsofrwanda.com further obtained information from its sources implicating other NGOs in the support of FDLR militias in DRC. According to those sources, different NGOs have continued to facilitate deployment of FDLR fighters near Rwandan borders with DRC.
The new deployments are mostly carried out in areas of Nyiragongo and Rutchuro, formerly occupied by M23 fights. Most of FDLR fighters deployed in these areas are reportedly intelligence operatives under the ‘CRAP’ acronym.
Sources further revealed that FDLR vice President, Lt. Gen. Sylvestre Mudacumura has relocated his base to Rumangabo, 60 kilometres from Goma which is under the control of FDLR fighters. Among these FDLR fighters is Capt. Abdul, who hails from Bugeshyi sector in Rwanda.
According to sources, another NGO operating in DRC-The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund (TEARFUND) facilitated Mudacumura with a vehicle to be used in his operations.
According to other FDLR ex-combatants who spoke us, the NGO provided its vehicle to Mudacumura to help him move freely around Goma without being recognized since the NGOs is neutral in the area. However, according to ex-combatants, Mudacumura has relocated to Nyabikeri for the fear of any arrest heavy security at the Rwandan border with DRC.
TEARFUND commenced its operations in DRC in 1986. The NGO currently operates in a consortium with other NGOs such as; Programme de Promotion des Soins de Santé Primaires (PPSSP), Centre Résolution des Conflits (CRC) as well as Communauté Evangélique Chrétienne en Afrique (CECA-20) another NGO operating in DRC. Most of TEARFUND branches are located in areas of Kivu Province and Maniena in DRC.
FDLR accused of rape, looting and killing civilians
Local residents living in Luofu village, just metres away from FDLR territory, accuse rebels of mass killings, rape and looting. The village has been dominated by FDLR for the past decade.
Residents told the BBC that FDLR rebels extort money from locals, pillage the farmers’ harvest and set up road blocks, demanding money or goods from anyone travelling through.
The residents also accuse the Congolese army (FARDC) of collaborating with FDLR, leaving locals to fend for themselves.
“At one point, they [FDLR] came to burn the villages… more than 200 houses,” Eric Kambale, a trainee priest at Luofu parish told BBC.
“People burned inside, can you imagine? It terrified people. The Congolese army was one kilometre away when that happened.” He added