UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC's chief hails FDLR decision to disarm
* Original in French
MONUC / PIO / PR /11 / 2005
MONUC expresses readiness to facilitate their return to Rwanda.
Kinshasa, DRC, 31 March 2005: Civilian and military leaders of Rwandan armed groups in the DRC territory (FDLR) have issued a statement expressing their intention to stop their armed struggle and have condemned the 1994 genocide. They have as well accepted to lay down their weapons and join the DDRRR program (Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration) put in place by MONUC.
MONUC / PIO / PR /11 / 2005
MONUC expresses readiness to facilitate their return to Rwanda.
Kinshasa, DRC, 31 March 2005: Civilian and military leaders of Rwandan armed groups in the DRC territory (FDLR) have issued a statement expressing their intention to stop their armed struggle and have condemned the 1994 genocide. They have as well accepted to lay down their weapons and join the DDRRR program (Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration) put in place by MONUC.
William Swing, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of MONUC, has welcomed the decision that now paves the road for a swift and definite settlement of the issue relating to Rwandan armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the restoration of normal diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda.
MONUC has temporarily selected the following six assembly points: Hombo, Sake, Lubero, Walungu, Sange and Kanyabayonga to receive the combatants willing to be repatriated to Rwanda. MONUC staff will register the combatants, including their dependents, upon arrival and will provide them with transportation, under UN peacekeeper protection, up to the Rwandan border from where Kigali authorities will take care of them within the framework of the Rwandan national program of demobilisation and reintegration. MONUC is also prepared to register and to destroy any weapon handed over by Rwandan combatants.
In light of the FDLR declaration, MONUC is also prepared to work out a calendar with practical technical modalities on the repatriation operation with the DRC government and FDLR officials.
MONUC hopes that wide-scale repatriation will be conducive to the improvement of relations between the DRC and Rwandan governments. This would allow for a significant opening of humanitarian access to the zones where Rwandan ex-combatants are located. The repatriation of Rwandan ex-combatants will also have a positive impact on the security context for the holding of upcoming DRC elections. The settlement of the issue relating to Rwandan armed groups operating in the DRC is the final step of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement signed in 1999.
MONUC calls for total collaboration from Rwandan and Congolese government officials for an expeditious repatriation operation.
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Contacts:
- Kemal SAIKI, Director of Public Information ' email: saiki@un.org ' tel: +243 81 890 7506
- Mamadou BAH, Spokesman ' email: bahm@un.org ' tel: +243 81 890 7706
MONUC has temporarily selected the following six assembly points: Hombo, Sake, Lubero, Walungu, Sange and Kanyabayonga to receive the combatants willing to be repatriated to Rwanda. MONUC staff will register the combatants, including their dependents, upon arrival and will provide them with transportation, under UN peacekeeper protection, up to the Rwandan border from where Kigali authorities will take care of them within the framework of the Rwandan national program of demobilisation and reintegration. MONUC is also prepared to register and to destroy any weapon handed over by Rwandan combatants.
In light of the FDLR declaration, MONUC is also prepared to work out a calendar with practical technical modalities on the repatriation operation with the DRC government and FDLR officials.
MONUC hopes that wide-scale repatriation will be conducive to the improvement of relations between the DRC and Rwandan governments. This would allow for a significant opening of humanitarian access to the zones where Rwandan ex-combatants are located. The repatriation of Rwandan ex-combatants will also have a positive impact on the security context for the holding of upcoming DRC elections. The settlement of the issue relating to Rwandan armed groups operating in the DRC is the final step of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement signed in 1999.
MONUC calls for total collaboration from Rwandan and Congolese government officials for an expeditious repatriation operation.
******************************************
Contacts:
- Kemal SAIKI, Director of Public Information ' email: saiki@un.org ' tel: +243 81 890 7506
- Mamadou BAH, Spokesman ' email: bahm@un.org ' tel: +243 81 890 7706
