The Congolese militia of the Alliance for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS), under the command of General Janvier Buingo Karairi, have captured four Tanzanian peace keeping soldiers serving within the United Nation Intervention Brigade,  after heavy fightings in Lukweti, Masisi terrotory, sources within the Office of the Governor of North-Kivu Province told AfroAmerica Network.

APCLS Ambush Kill 18 FARDC Soldiers; North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku Asked to Mediate

The APLCS captured the Tanzanian troops after heavy fightings in Lukweti,  20 km towards Walikale, from the city of Nyabiondo, in Masisi territory. APCLS troops have been battling the Congolese army FARDC over the last few months. The Tanzanian troops were captured when they fell in ambush, while trying to reinforce the FARDC position that was surrounded. During the ambush, 18 FARDC soldiers were killed and an undetermined number injured.  Although APCLS was accused by UN Group of Experts in the January 23, 2014 report S2014/42  of collaboration with other armed groups, it appears the ambush was solely conducted by APCLS troops. APCLS fighters are primarily of Hunde ethnic origin and are often allied with Hutus and Nyangas, against Rwandan-backed Congolese militias, such as Raia Mutomboki and Mai-Mai Nduma Defense Forces of Cheka aka Sheka Nteberi.

  According to the sources with the Office of the North-Kivu Governor, when Martin Kobler, the Head of MONUSCO,  learned of the capture, he contacted the Governor of North Kivu, Julien Paluku Kahongya,  to request that he intervene with the APCLS mai-mai leaders and Hunde elders, to have the 4 Tanzanian soldiers released. The Governor asked the head of Security, Miganda, to lead the negotiations. AfroAmerica Network tried to contact Miganda to enquire about the status, without success.  However, the sources said Miganda was already in contact with General Janvier, to negotiate the release.

Martin Kobler, MONUSCO Head Seeking A Peaceful End to Conflict in the Kivus.

The capture of the Tanzanian peacekeeping troops comes as Martin Kobler was engaged in a media charm to have the humanitarian and military crisis in North-Kivu resolved peacefully. On March 5, 2014 he held a meeting in Goma with representatives of armed groups and officials of the DRC government to find ways to resolve the conflict.

During the meeting, Martin Kobler proposed the representatives of the armed groups to convince those among their commanders accused of crimes in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to surrender. He promised that if these leaders do so, he would himself provide air transportation from Eastern DRC to the Hague.  The representatives of armed groups gave a commitment to convince their commanders. In return, the DRC official promised to report to President Joseph Kabila, so that he supports the initiative.

According to sources close to MONUSCO and the DRC government officials, DRC President Joseph Kabila agreed with the  principle and promised to give an official response no later than March  8, 2014.  Specifically, Joseph Kabila was asked to agree to support a disarmament and resettlement of Rwandan combatants on DRC territory.

DRC President Joseph Kabila Dragging His Feet on a Peace Proposal in Eastern DRC.

However, as of today, President Joseph Kabila has remained silent.

Meanwhile, relying on DRC President Joseph Kabila’s accord on the principle, Martin Kobler contacted the media and, on March 11, 2014, he said that he urged “all FDLR rebels to immediately break away from their leaders who are being prosecuted by justice, otherwise they will be forcibly disarmed.”

It is when Martin Kobler was still expecting Joseph Kabila’s official response, and Joseph Kabila was dragging his feet,  that the capture of the Tanzanian peacekeepers happened.

The question now is why DRC President Joseph Kabila waited so long to give an official response to  MONUSCO Head Martin Kobler and what will follow now that the events have complicated once again the situation in Eastern DRC. 

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