Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Congo's Army Vows to Disarm Mai Mai Militias

VOA News - October 22, 2007

King report (MP3) - Download 556K audio clip
Listen to King report (MP3) audio clip

Congo's armed forces are preparing to mount an offensive against community-based militias in the east, known as the Mai Mai. A high-ranking member of Congo's army says disarming the Mai Mai will take precedent over purging a rebellion by dissident General Laurent Nkunda. Noel King has more in this VOA report from Kigali.

Colonel Delphin Kayimbi is the deputy commander of army operations in eastern Congo's war-wracked North Kivu Province.

Democratic Republic of Congo
Kayimbi told VOA that the armed forces are set to mount an offensive against Mai Mai militias, led by Kasereka Kabamba in Bunagana, which sits along Congo's border with Uganda.

"We are preparing to launch an attack to disarm the Mai Mai and all negative forces who are collaborating with the FDLR. In 45 hours, we are going to launch an attack to disarm them," said Kayimbi.

Kayimbi said the Mai Mai are hampering rather than helping Congo's armed forces.

News reports in recent weeks have suggested that Congo's armed forces are accepting help from the Mai Mai and the FDLR, an ethnic Hutu militia group with links to the perpetrators of Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

Congo's unruly, demoralized regular army has had trouble gaining ground against General Nkunda's rebellion.

Colonel Kayimbi dismissed the reports.

"We are not collaborating with the Mai Mai or even with the FDLR. We don't need [to], because we have enough troops to realize the strategic objective," said Kayimbi.

Congolese President Joseph Kabila, announced his intent to purge Nkunda's rebellion, rather than negotiate with the rebel leader, during a visit to North Kivu province last week.

Nkunda broke ranks with the Congolese army in 2004, charging that Congo's administration had failed to protect Congo's Tutsi population from attacks by the Hutu FDLR.

Critics accuse neighboring Rwanda of providing material support to Nkunda.

Colonel Kayimbi told VOA, recent intelligence reports suggest Rwanda is heavily implicated in the current conflict.

"The support of the Rwandese to Nkunda's troops is now a reality. Ammunition is coming from Rwanda, uniforms are coming from Rwanda, food is coming from Rwanda, medication is coming from Rwanda," he said.

A spokesman for Rwanda's armed forces was not available for comment.

Rwanda strongly denies providing any material support to Nkunda, but President Paul Kagame has said the rebel general has legitimate grievances.

 


Related articles


  1. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  2. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  5. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  6. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  7. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  8. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  9. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  10. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  11. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  12. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  13. Peacekeepers, Congo Army to Resume Joint Fight Against Rwandan Rebels (January 28, 2016)
  14. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  15. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  16. DRC Army Putting Pressure on FDLR (April 1, 2015)
  17. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  18. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  19. Southern African Leaders to Meet in Zimbabwe (August 15, 2014)
  20. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  21. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  22. Security Council extends UN mission, intervention force in DR Congo for one year (March 28, 2014)
  23. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  24. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  25. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  26. U.S. Sanctions Rwanda Over Use of Child Soldiers by M23 Rebels (October 4, 2013)
  27. Rwandan Support for M23 Rebels Frustrates Attempts to End Fighting in Eastern Congo (September 26, 2013)
  28. Rwanda 'recruiting for M23 rebels' (July 31, 2013)
  29. DR Congo Asks Rwanda to Turn Over M23 Rebel Leaders (July 26, 2013)
  30. UN Security Council debate focuses on peace efforts for Africa's Great Lakes region (July 25, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.