Dozens of Rwandan Hutu rebels turn in arms in DR Congo – UN

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported that dozens of combatants with a Rwandan Hutu rebel group have turned in their arms in the east of the vast Central African nation.

Yesterday in the town of Kasiki, 200 kilometres north of North Kivu province’s capital Goma, 67 members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) turned in weapons in the presence of Congolese authorities.

Also present yesterday were representatives of the task force monitoring the Joint Nairobi Communiqué, the November 2007 agreement under which the DRC and Rwanda have agreed to work together against threats to peace and stability in the region.

The combatants arrived with 100 of their dependants and turned in some 45 weapons, most of which were AK-47 rifles.

The UN mission, known as MONUC, welcomed this initiative, noting that this many FDLR combatants have not voluntarily disarmed at the same time since 2006.

The number of fighters participating in the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR) process has increased by 30 per cent since the signing of the Nairobi Communiqué.

However, MONUC notes with regret that many combatants continue to be held back from taking part in the DDRRR process by their leaders.