A New Life for Over 1,400 Children Born in Congo and Forced Back to Rwanda at Gunpoint
Support our newsroom by MAKING A CONTRIBUTION HERE
In white or yellow T-shirts, some in short or trousers, and all donning ‘boda boda’ – a common footwear in rural Africa, they sang and danced. While many of them were oblivious of what was going on, it was visible on the faces of some that they are aware life isn’t the same as they knew it last year.
At makeshift transit camp in Rusizi district, this Tuesday, 1,886 people completed a reintegration program which began in December last year. At least 1,400 of them are minors and babies – with 11 of the children having no single parent.
The journey of these repatriatees back to Rwanda has been entangled in complex web of geopolitical forces that most may never understand.
On November 11, last year, exiled former prime minister Faustin Twagiramungu and “Hotel Rwanda” movie personality Paul Rusesabagina, issued heavily worded statement claiming “Rwandan troops” had encircled camps for Rwandan refugees in Kalehe region of South Kivu, DRC. They claimed the troops were bombarding the camps and there had been civilian casualties.
A week later, on November 21, a contingent of UN peacekeepers MONUSCO visited the area and actually held a meeting with the people. It remains unclear whether that area was a refugee camp or ordinary villages settled by Rwandans.
According to verifiable historical records, Rwandan people have left Rwanda and settled in that Kalehe region since the 1950s. Some were forcefully taken their by colonial administrators to work on farms. Some, like a woman genocide suspect identified among the repatriatees, moved to Kalehe as a hide away.
The DR Congo government of President Felix Tshisekedi has vehemently dismissed the notion that it was Rwandan troops which conducted military operations in that region. Tshisekedi says it was the work of the Congolese army or FARDC.
Twagiramungu and Rusesabagina got involved in the mix because they both led a Rwanda political group Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), with a military wing called FLN. Earlier, in mid 2018, and months that followed, the FLN had attacked several regions in southwestern Rwanda leaving a number of casualties.
The FLN attacked Rwandan territory and fled back to South Kivu, via access granted by Burundian intelligence, according to narrative provided by the government of Rwanda.
DRC President Tshisekedi announced in Parliament on December 13 that 1,712 members of CNRD had been captured in Kalehe territory – 245 as armed combatants and 10 political leaders. The rest were their dependants. They were all moved to Nyamunyunyi military camp, located more than 30km north of Bukavu.
The Chronicles has previously detailed the journey of these Kalehe people back to Rwanda.
ALSO READ: CNRD/FLN Rebels or Rwandan Refugees: It Depends on Your Source of Information
Fast forward, more than 11 months later, Rwandan government officials put on a show today at the function to release the hundreds of mothers and fathers together with their children into Rwandan society.
More than 15,000 former combatants and their families have previously gone through a similar program in past 20 years.
For the lot who completed their reintegration program today, they get a specific package; each adult gets $250 (Rwf 250,000) cash and $150 (Rwf 150,000) for each child.
As to how people, who were born in Congo, others had been away for 26 years, would manage to start a new life with no land, house or property, Rwandan officials say; they will be resettled in communities to benefit from existing government programs targeted for the most vulnerable.
For the children without parents, the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commissioner (RDRC) says they will be taken care of by the government briefly, as the authorities search for blood relatives who are in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, the Rwanda Prosecutor General announced Monday that Rusesabagina and his 17 other FLN commanders would be tried together. They face a charge sheet including terrorism, murder, abduction and arson.
What’s up mates, its enormous post regarding tutoringand completely defined, keep it up all the time.
I really like reading a post that can make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!
My family members every time say that I am killing my time here at net,
but I know I am getting know-how daily by reading thes
nice content.
For latest news you have to pay a visit the web and on the
web I found this site as a most excellent web page for latest updates.
I know this web site provides quality depending content and extra stuff, is there any other site which gives
these kinds of data in quality?
The actual price will depend on the loan system, loan amount and repayment term.
Look into my site :: Small Loan
For current players, you get a 25% crypto reload bonus as effectively as a refer-a-pal bonus.
Here is my homepage – Akropolistravel.com
It’s nearly impossible to find educated people for this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little homework on this.
And he in fact bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your site.
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i
subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a
appropriate deal. I had been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered vibrant clear idea
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article
and the rest of the site is extremely good.
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well
written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more
of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
I’ll certainly return.
Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i
was just curious if you get a lot of spam remarks?
If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you
can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
This design is spectacular! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start
my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative.
I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future.
Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this site.
I really hope to view the same high-grade content by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal site now 😉
Hi, i feel that i noticed you visited my web site thus i came
to return the desire?.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose
its adequate to make use of a few of your concepts!!
Hi would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers
and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a fair
price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through
Google, and found that it is truly informative.
I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate
if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Great blog here! Also your website loads up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link
to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to
come back later on. Many thanks
I blog quite often and I genuinely appreciate your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.
I’m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking
for new information about once a week. I subscribed to
your RSS feed too.
Hi mates, how is all, and what you desire to
say on the topic of this paragraph, in my view its actually
awesome designed for me.
Hello to every one, since I am actually eager of reading this webpage’s
post to be updated regularly. It contains good stuff.
It’s an amazing post designed for all the online viewers; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.
fantastic submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite experts of this sector do not realize this.
You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
I was suggested this website by way of my cousin. I’m no longer certain whether
this put up is written by means of him as no one else realize such detailed approximately my trouble.
You are incredible! Thank you!
I am curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing?
I’m having some minor security problems with my latest website and I would like to find something more safe.
Do you have any solutions?
Hi there colleagues, how is everything, and what you
want to say about this article, in my view its genuinely amazing in favor of
me.
Spot on with this write-up, I honestly believe that this website needs a great
deal more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the information!
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you can be
a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and definitely will come back
in the future. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great
work, have a nice morning!
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look ahead to in the hunt
for extra of your excellent post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks
My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to another platform.
I have heard excellent things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress posts into it?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Hi there this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if
blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted
to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would
be enormously appreciated!
Wow! After all I got a website from where I can genuinely get valuable information concerning
my study and knowledge.
There are a variety of kinds of live dealer
roulette wheels to play on the net.
Fire your mobile device, and watch the Mega Jackpots progressive improve in true-time just about every time the game is played.
We are searching at a state-of-the-art gambling web-site with immediate-play
games you can launch straight from your mobile browser.
Betway Casino’s $250 welcome bonus is enticing, and so
is Royal Panda’s $200.
Why people still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe everything is
existing on net?
Hi there to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this web page, and your views are nice in support of new visitors.
I enjoy this site – its so usefull and helpfull. compra leflunomida a Genova online
Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been running a blog for?
you make blogging look easy. The full glance of your site is great, as smartly as
the content! You can see similar: sklep and
here sklep
Your method of explaining everything in this article is actually pleasant, all can without difficulty be aware of it, Thanks a lot.
Open minded natural cam girls looking for her knight ! are you?
Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my
zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really
appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Wow, amazing blog structure! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for?
you make running a blog glance easy. The entire look of your site is fantastic, as well as the content!
You can see similar here sklep internetowy