“We stand behind them, we support them, and we call on them to launch offensives. From today, we intend to work with them to fight the enemy. Our regions are occupied, and that is why we are asking them. We also ask them to reject any order to withdraw without justification, especially politically motivated messages,” said Frank Mukendi, a protester.
Chants and slogans expressed frustration and anger toward Rwanda, which was accused of supporting the M23 rebels. Hundreds of demonstrators from Butembo, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, took to the streets on Tuesday to express their support for the Congolese armed forces and, above all, to oppose any negotiations with the rebels.
“Every day, Rwanda asserts that there are FDLR members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that we must locate them. That’s the daily debate in Rwanda, but I think it’s a complete diversion, which is why we keep pleading with our government to back the FARDC, our republican army, in order to achieve long-term peace, “civil society member Muhindo Shafi remarked.
The protesters also condemned the ongoing massacres in North Kivu, which have been perpetrated by the terrorist organization ADF since October 2014. More than 17,000 deaths have already occurred, according to civic society.
“In the Lubero area of Beni, we are being massacred. We declare that enough is enough. Give the FARDC all the tools they need to launch an attack on the M23 and ADF rebels. Today, I am protesting to say no to negotiations,” said Rose Kahavu, a protester.
While both the Ugandan and Congolese armies are conducting operations in the region, the violence has not yet been stopped. On Sunday, October 13, Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the Congo, gave explicit orders to enhance military cooperation between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to eradicate insecurity in this region.
(Africanews)
