By ALEX NGARAMBE
Forces loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda are forcefully recruiting Congolese of Rwandese origin to fight for them in the ongoing renewed conflict in the Eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, The EastAfrican has learnt.
“Militia groups have been forcefully recruiting men and boys and those who resist are threatened to be killed,” Eric Nkurunziza, one of the Congolese refugees who is of Rwandese origin told The EastAfrican, after arriving at the Rwandan town of Gisenyi from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).
He added that the rebels have been raiding schools and villages in Masisi, an area in Eastern province that is largely inhabited by Congolese of Rwandese origin.
This follows recent unrest and violent clashes in North and South Kivu provinces and in the Ituri district of north-eastern DR Congo between the Congolese army and soldiers loyal to the rebel leader who is wanted by the International Criminal court ( ICC) for war crimes.
The recent clashes have forced thousands of Congolese mainly of Rwandese origin to flee into Rwanda from the fierce fighting with approximately over 2000 refugees received in Rwanda as of Tuesday.
Some of the fighters loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda are former members of National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), which was integrated into the Congolese national army in 2009 following a peace deal with their leader.
From 2002-2005, General Ntaganda was chief of military operations for the Congolese the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) rebels, led by warlord Thomas Lubanga who in March became the first person to be convicted of war crimes by the ICC after finding him guilty of recruiting child soldiers.
“We have been caught in crossfire – the Interahamwe who carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda have come out of the hiding and killing people whom they claim are Rwandese,” said Lucy Mukasine, also a refugee from Congo of Rwandese origin.
The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is currently settling the refugees with support from the Rwandan authorities.
Sheikh Hassan Bahame, Rubavu district mayor confirmed that most of the refugees received speak Kinyarwanda though he could not more divulge details saying refugee issues are being handled by UNHCR.
Currently Rwanda is hosting close to 55000 Congolese refugees.
“At the moment we still have the capacity to accommodate the number of refugees but if they keep arriving, we might be overstretched but the government is partnering with UNHCR to address this issue.
It will not be the first time Rwanda is receiving a large number of refugees and from past experience, we have the capacity to deal with the problem.” said Jean Claude Rwahama, head of refugees affairs in the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees.