RDC: FDLR – Declaration de Soutien de Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda – Pour les Mesures Entreprises par le Gouvernement du Burundi de Chasser les Envahisseurs Hamities dans le Pays (12.10.2020)

Opinion: The RNC is weakened as a fraction starts the RAC

This isn’t the first time a sponsored militia goes separate ways. The Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) have created many different outfits and the biggest currently of those is the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD).

In July this year the Rwanda National Congress is split into two parts. This being the RNC run by Kayumba Nyamwasa, who has support from Kampala. While in Canada, the diaspora of RNC have launched the Rwanda Alliance for Change (RAC) on the 6^th July 2020. The signatories to the manifesto, which is also online is Bellamin Bakamira, Tabitha Gwiza, Achille Kamana, Anicet Karege, Saleh Musoni Karuranga, Pacifique Mukobwajana, Dr. Etienne Ndagijimana, Jean Paul Turayishimye and Benoit Umuhoza.

Clearly Nyamwasa is losing his support in Canada and that is weakening the RNC. The RNC have been run by him and with his orders. That has over time caused friction and therefore, the new one is created. We can wonder, if the diaspora based RAC will try to convene a meeting in Kisoro or elsewhere in Uganda too. As the RNC have been recruiting in Uganda.

The MRCD is already weakened, as they caused issues for Kigali last year. However, we can wonder how the operations are going. As they have been known for attacks from Burundi. While the RNC have only lost people after high ranking officials held talks in Uganda last year.

This has all created diplomatic entanglements between Kigali and Kampala. As the proxy wars are hitting home. The Kigali based diplomats wants Kampala to stop supporting efforts to undermine their reign. While Kampala doesn’t listen to it. They are continuing it.

We can wonder, other then t he main objective to topple the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). Like all of these outfits are claiming is their will. While they cannot work together for too long.

Now that its another militia with goal and objectives in the sphere. That for some reason will be around. We can wonder how big it is and where it will recruit. Even the manpower and their planned operation. Other than going after the RPF and President Kagame.

The only looser here is Nyamwasa and his allies. They are loosing support and getting another competition. While Kigali will get it easier, as there are smaller fractions and will have less suction. It will also be easier for intelligence operations get a whiff of what is going on.

However, we cannot know until more information is out. Clearly, there are shady works being done behind closed doors. Nevertheless, 2020 continues to deliver and we can wonder what costs the RAC will have. Peace.

Rwanda: FDU-Inkingi – Communique de Presse – Les FDU-Inkingi denoncent une eneme tentative de desinformation et de calomnie a leur encontre par le regime du Front Patriotique Rwandais (21.07.2020)

Rwanda: Nsabimana’s testimony doesn’t add up

There are always something shady going on. These sort of affairs that I dwell into here is easily a barrel filled with conspiracies. This being the affairs of the MRCD-UBUMWE, a rebellion out of former rebel groups going together to defeat the Presidency of Kagame and his Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). Clearly, when they have been able to take one of the faces of this rebellion. They will mock him, torture him and certainly do what they can to hurt his cause.

The Rwandan Authorities is doing the natural thing charging Major Callixte Nsabimana aka Sankara. That they are taking him to court and apprehending him, only makes sense. However, that they are peddling news about his testimony from Court. Which is refuted both by his allies within the militia forged in 2017 with armed rebels from FNL, FDLR, RRM and CNRD.

All of this makes everything so questionable. Yes, I understand that the authorities wants to undermine the efforts of the MRCD, as they want to overthrow Kagame in Kigali. However, the method of releasing these sorts of allegations are counterproductive. Especially, when it only creates diplomatic spats and statements. Which isn’t serving Zambia or Rwanda. It is only making Kigali looking foolish in the eyes of Lusaka.

Just take a look!

The Report from the Court:

“The alleged crimes were committed when Nsabimana was the Spokesperson of the ‘National Liberation Forces (FLN)’, an armed terrorist organisation founded by the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), a political organisation founded by Paul Rusesabagina, among other members” (…) “When the trial reopened, Nsabimana, who was a self-proclaimed ‘Major’ in FLN accused Zambian President Edgar Lungu of allowing them space to operate in his country to overthrow the Rwandan government” (Edmund Kagire – ‘FLN’s Nsabimana Returns to Court, Alleges Zambian Support’ 13.07.2020, KT Press Rwanda).

MRCD Condemns the lies reported from the trial of Sankara:

“The Government of Rwanda exerts all pressure in the form of physical and psychological torture against Major SANKARA to force him to confess at all costs the charges, to incriminate all those who wish to testify in favor of the accused. and to strive to sully the reputation of his political opponents whom he qualifies as terrorists in the pejorative sense! The MRCD – UBUMWE declares itself stunned by this relentlessness of the Rwandan courts which are also working to involve foreign friendly countries in this trial, in particular Zambia and its Head of State Edgar Lungu. The MRCD –UBUMWE takes this opportunity to protest loud and clear against these lies. There is no truth to these allegations at all” (MRCD – ‘CONDAMNATION DES MENSONGES DANS LE PROCÈS du Major Callixte NSABIMANA SANKARA’ 16.07.2020).

Zambia – Testimony not credible:

“But Hon. Malanji said he was informed by President Kagame that the allegations are not credible as prior to his arrest, Nsabimana had travelled to five countries that do NOT include Zambia. Hon. Malanji said government will continue to investigate why Nsabimana chose to falsely mention President Edgar Lungu in his court testimony” (Mwebantu – ‘Zambia-Rwanda bilateral ties are sound, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji says’ 17.07.2020).

The reality here is clear. Nsabimana could tell this alleged co-conspirator story for various of reasons. That is to deflect from his own wrong-doings and to hope for a lesser sentence. However, that seems to backfire. When his own outfit, his own militia that he was participating in and defended refutes his testimony. Also, that the Zambian Authorities is responding in disregard to it.

That Lusaka is saying they are not part of this is not shocking. That is expected, no healthy government wants to support and help militias to overthrow regimes in other nations. Unless, they are hoping for a pay-off for the support with time. There seems to very few reasons for Zambia to want to get rid of Kagame. Unless, it would be a ego thing for Lungu. Which seems far-fetched, as Lungu has enough trouble at home to ever consider to cause issues elsewhere.

Another point I will make is that its just weird that this alleged connection is released and spread to the media from the Courts. That the testimony of Nsabimana is all across the continent and the State House of Zambia and Foreign Affairs are addressing it. While, the Rwandan counterparts are not speaking out on it. Like they are hurt that some alleged co-conspirators are willing to undermine Kigali. Which is just by all accounts, made up story and fiction. Seemingly to fit a narrative for the rebel and his cause.

That is why this doesn’t add up. Secondly, the attacks the MRCD have done reportedly on Rwandan soil have come from Burundi, where they crossed the Kibra Forrest in Cibitoka province into Nyungewe Forrest in Ruhengeri district. That is not some lay away base in Zambia, but more influxed and prepared from Burundi.

That’s why I have hard time believing this and yes, there are underlying scepticism from the get-go. Neither, the rebel, the militia major or the ones spreading the news is credible. What is making it even worse. Is that two separate parties, one being the supposed co-conspirator is denying it and the current leadership of militia, which the man who testifies comes from. That is all making it easy to wonder what’s the motives for spreading it in the first place, instead of believing in the allegations. There are enough red-flags for me to even digest it as facts. Peace.

Zambia: Let Diplomacy deal with Rwanda Issue (16.07.2020)

Zambia: Allegations Against President Lungu False (14.07.2020)

DRC: Conflicting statements on the skirmishes at Kusisa in South Kivu Province

“Major fighting took place yesterday in Kusisa (Kalehe territory, South Kivu) between the Congolese army and the CNRD, a Rwandan rebellion that resulted from a split with the FDLR in 2016” (Kivu Security, 27.11.2019).

There are apparently two different views to what happened in Kusisa, Kalehe territory in South-Kivu province. What it says, there are claims of the violence towards civilians in a refugee camp by government soldiers and Rwandan soldiers camouflaged as so in South Kivu. While the Rwandan government claims the militia caused these attacks. The MRCD have already promised to wage war against Kigali, while they are still based in the DRC.

Clearly, they could play for the facade, but we never know in these instances. The MRCD claims a total different picture from the Rwandese, both using the UN documentation, while the DRC reporter states what the FARDC says it does. Therefore, it is hard to know what’s going on. But something is up and civilians are the casualties in all of this.

MRCD Statement:

“On the night of 25 to 26 November 2019, the FARDC (Armed Forces of the DRC), together with the Rwandan soldiers in Congolese army uniform, attacked and destroyed the Rwandan refugee camp in Kalehe territory in South Kivu. The Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD-Ubumwe) had nevertheless alerted the International Community of the imminence of these attacks given the encirclement of this camp since 13/11/2019 by members of the RDF (Rwandese Defence Forces) disguised as Congolese soldiers. We denounce the silence and passivity of the International Community before such massacres against the survivors of the genocide perpetrated in Congo by the same troops of General Paul KAGAME in 1996-1998, as proved in the UN Mapping Report: These massacres of refugees are committed with the indifference of the UN military force MONUSCO, which has been present in the DRC since 1999. The MRCD-Ubumwe also recalls that MONUSCO has several soldiers not far from this camp of attacked refugees” (MRCD – ‘Rwandan soldiers in Congolese army uniform, attacked and destroyed the Rwandan refugee camp in Kalehe territory’ 26.11.2019).

Rwandan Embassy in Brussels Statement:

“Recently, and to the knowledge of the Belgian authorities, it has been proven that two politico military platforms named P5 and MRCD operate from the Kingdom of Belgium where some of its leaders are staying, including Paul Rusesabagina, who heads the Rwandan Movement for Peace. Democratic Change (MRCD Ubumwe), Faustin Twagiramungu and Placide Kayumba (Vice President of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) and co-founder of Jambo ASBL). This group meets regularly, signs pacts and raises funds for the sole purpose of overthrowing the Rwandan government by force. The details of the activities of the P5 military branch led by the Rwanda National Congress led by Kayumba Nyamwasa and the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) were analyzed in a report by the UN expert group. on the Congo from December 2018. As a reminder, the FDLR are the ideological heirs of the perpetrators of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 and since their presence in eastern Congo are responsible for systematic killings and rapes. In spite of these criminal acts, members of the ASBL under Belgian law called “Jambo ASBL”, actively involved in a misinformation campaign against Rwanda, regularly visited the eastern part of the Congo to meet with them. FDLR leaders” (Rwanda in Belgium – ‘Le Rwanda déplore que la presse belge fasse l’écho d’une campagne visant à le déstabiliser’ 27.11.2019).

Reports from the DRC:

“Information confirmed by the FARDC that announce that on the orders of the high military hierarchy, the operational sector Sukola 2 South Kivu and North Kivu, launched this Tuesday, November 26, an offensive against the armed group CNRD with the objective of neutralizing this group armed foreign active on Congolese soil. “For the only day of this Tuesday, November 26, the FARDC have already recovered the localities of Kitindiro, Rutare1 and 2, Bibatama and Nganjo, formerly under control CNRD. The populations of all these localities are asked to remain calm and to dissociate themselves with all these armed groups “, adds captain Dieudonné Kasereka military spokesman of the operation Sukola 2 South South-kivu” (Justin Mwamba – ‘Sud-Kivu : les FARDC récupèrent plusieurs localités jadis occupées par les CNRD à Kahele’ 27.11.2019, Actulite.cd).

We can clearly see that none of them is denouncing the skirmishes, the battles nor the actually fatalities in South Kivu Province. However, the FARDC says its liberated parts of the territory, while the MRCD claims the army did crimes against humanity and went after civilians in a refugee camp. That is not the story from the FARDC. But who would confess that directly? Secondly, what militia doesn’t want goodwill and try to portray their enemies in the worst light? Thirdly, what government doesn’t want to defend themselves, against the ones who want to overthrow it?

That is all reasonable, but, a very important but, someone is lying here. Someone is not coming with a straight face. There is a lie here and I cannot catch it. As there are two much between the lines and that I have no knowledge of. What we do know, is that Rwandan soldiers has been and easily could be in the Kivu provinces. The MRCD and allies are working to get rid of Kagame, that is a mere fact. FARDC has a bad rep together with MONUSCO to not shield citizens. Therefore, there is a lot at stake and also open questions. Neither do I trust the FARDC, the MRCD nor the Rwandan in this matter. Because, they could all be lying. However, there must be truth there somewhere, but I cannot see that either.

That’s because they are all lying and in war, the first thing that is the innocent and the innocence of people. They are all using all means to win. It doesn’t matter which side of the gun you are, as long as your not on the losing side. Because, that means either punishment or death. That’s why all of these will tell stories, will amplify or even spread propaganda for their own narrative. I just don’t know who to believe. That’s my issue. What’s the real issue is that by all accounts, civilians and refugees was in the midsts of cross-fire and certainly someone died because of warlords was busy tormenting the region. Peace.

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XIV: RNC Diane Rutabana letter to Uganda Security Agencies (13.10.2019)

Rwanda: L’opposante Victorie Ingabire, presidente des FDU interrogee par le bureau d’investigation (08.10.2019)

FDU-Ikingi – Rwanda: Nous denoncons les assassinats qui ont eu lieu a Kingi et Burera, dans la Province du Nord (05.10.2019)