Rwandan Rebels, FDLR-FOCA, Disarm Some of Their Troops. What’s Next?

The disarmament ceremony  happened as scheduled on May 30, 2014, in the village of Kateku,  Buleusa, in the Waikale territory.  As predicted,  around 102 troops along with their dependent were disarmed and regrouped in a camp. The camp was  initially planned to be setup near Buleusa, in Kivu, Estern DRC and  managed by SADC troops. Now, AfroAmerica has learned that those disarmed will be moved hundreds of miles away, to a camp in the town of Kanyabayonga.

The disarmament  itself has raised more questions than answers. The major question is what would be the next steps.

A  Ceremony Snubbed by the International Community, Regional Leaders, and DRC Government

The disarmament by FDLR-FOCA was  advertised in advance by FDLR commanders, who  had invited world leaders and the international community, especially the United Nations, the African Union,  regional organizations and the DRC government to attend. None did or, at best, some sent lower level bureaucrats.  The DRC Government sent the North-Kivu deputy provincial governor, Feller Lutaichirwa, the United Nations sent a staff within a department  of the UN Mission in Congo (MONUSCO). The African Union Commissioner,  Ms. Dlamini-Zuma Zuma, who was expected to attend, did not show up.