The M23 rebel group, operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and allegedly backed by Rwanda, announced the transfer of 20 fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to Rwandan authorities.
This transfer occurred at the Goma-Gisenyi border crossing. The FDLR is a Hutu militia, some of whose members participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide against Tutsis.
Among those transferred was General Ezechiel Gakwere, accused of involvement in the Butare genocide, and Major Gilbert Ndayambaje, convicted of crimes against humanity by a DRC court.
M23 claims to be continuing its search for other FDLR members in Goma. Rwandan officials asserted that the handover validates their longstanding claims of FDLR presence in the DRC, which they cite as a security threat.
Rwanda has consistently denied directly supporting M23, despite UN reports indicating Rwandan military presence and influence in the region.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe criticized Western powers for dismissing Rwanda’s concerns about the FDLR, alleging that they accused Rwanda of using the FDLR as a pretext for mineral exploitation in the DRC.
UN reports also indicate that Rwanda profits from the DRC’s mineral resources.