Wellars Gasamagera, RPF leader, urges the DRC to sever ties with the FDLR militia to pursue peace and abandon plans to attack Rwanda. He emphasizes the importance of negotiation with M23 rebels and criticizes the misrepresentation of the crisis in the DRC, calling for a focus on historical governance problems. Additionally, he labels sanctions against Rwanda as ineffective and counterproductive.
According to Wellars Gasamagera, Secretary General of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must cut connections with the FDLR militia to achieve lasting peace. He stated that continuing ties to the FDLR, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the UN, exacerbates tensions in the region, especially since the M23 rebels’ recent takeover of Goma.
During a meeting of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations in February, Gasamagera voiced concerns over DRC President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to attack Rwanda. He asserted that the DRC should drop plans to destabilize Rwanda’s democratically elected leadership and sever ties with FDLR to foster peace.
Gasamagera emphasized that negotiations are necessary to address the conflict with M23 rebels and their underlying grievances, promoting dialogue as the pathway to peace. He commended Rwandan President Paul Kagame for his commitment to regional security and powerful defense measures to protect Rwanda’s borders.
The FDLR, formed from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide’s perpetrators, has continued its violent agenda against Tutsi populations in the DRC while also attacking Rwanda. Gasamagera criticized how the DRC’s government and international actors misconstrue the main causes of instability, which he attributes to internal governance issues rather than external influences.
Additionally, he dismissed sanctions against Rwanda related to the M23, arguing that these measures are counterproductive and fail to address the DRC’s governance failures. He contended that sanctions merely allow the DRC to evade its responsibilities, underscoring the need for addressing the true roots of the crisis.
In summary, wellars Gasamagera asserts that the DRC’s peace efforts are contingent on severing ties with the FDLR and abandoning hostile actions against Rwanda. He advocates for a focus on dialogue to resolve conflicts rooted in historical governance issues, while dismissing sanctions as ineffective in promoting accountability within the DRC. The situation requires a reconsideration of narratives surrounding regional security and the true sources of the ongoing crisis.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
