Officials of governments of countries in the Great Lakes region are meeting in Kigali to discuss and formulate mechanisms that will help eradicating negative armed forces in region.
Rwanda’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mary Baine emphasised that the expected outcome of the ICGLR defense and security experts is the adoption of a common approach with a view of supporting bilateral and regional initiatives that intensify efforts in dealing with negative forces.
Jacqueline Mukangira, the ICGLR national coordinator said that the resolutions of this meeting will lay a foundation for the meaningful strategies for a peaceful region the future generations will enjoy.
She said it is believed that the presence of negative armed groups in the region, particularly in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Sudan remain an impediment to sustainable development in the region.
Among the rebel groups include Forces for the Defense and Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) , a Rwandan group operating in Eastern DRC and the Diaspora, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) pictured above, a Ugandan armed group now operating in DRC, Sudan and Central African Republic as well as Allied Democratic Forces, another Ugandan rebel group operating in the Ituri province in DRC.
According to Rwanda’s Colonel Dan Munyuza, the Director General of external security in the National Intelligence Security Services (NISS), member states should make a permanent army brigade which will be mandated to fight the negative forces.
“Member states should not allow to be used as territories of aggressive and subversive penetration against another country.
“Governments in the region should impose heavy economic sanctions in order to weaken the rebels financings,” said Col Munyuza.
Col. Mamba from DRC was quick to note that joint military efforts have weakened FDLR. “Both operations Umoja 1 and 2 which were conducted by Rwanda and Congo military weakened 60 percent of the rebels’ capacity and some were disarmed while others voluntary left the force,” he pointed out.
This meeting will be concluded by a special roundtable of ministers of defense in member countries scheduled on Friday in Kigali who are expected to discuss on how to implement the recommendations.
The ministers will discuss the role of security organs in the initiative to fight the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the region and strengthen cooperation in the efforts to deal with the threat of terrorism especially that posed by Al- Shabab.
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