Uganda, Rwanda army officials meet over eastern Congo rebels
Brig. Partrick Kankiriho (R) and his Rwandan counterpart, Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame, during a press briefing in Mbarara on Thursday. PHOTO BY RAJAB MUKOMBOZI.
What you need to know:
Security. Security threat by ADF and interahamwe militia, illegal trade and immigrants were key on agenda.
At least 20 army officers from Uganda and Rwanda held a closed-door meeting in Mbarara over security threats from neighbouring eastern DR Congo. The army officers say there are Intarahamwe and the Allied Democratic Forces dissidents hiding in DR Congo who are threatening security and destabilise the two countries.
“This is one among other reasons why we decided to regularly convene and forge a way forward,” said Capt. Peter Mugisa, the Second Division UPDF spokesperson, during a press on Thursday.
The Second Division UPDF Commander, Brig. Patrick Kankiriho, said armies from Rwanda and Uganda agreed to share intelligence information and interact as often as possible to address threats.
“We are not going to DR Congo but we have to be cautious of the security threats coming from there, both Rwanda and Uganda are threatened. We have to make sure that our countries, especially the borders, are secure,” he said.
Security threat
Brig Kankiriho said they will also count on the help of DR Congo to “see how these rebels can be flushed out”. His counterpart from Rwanda, Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame, said the presence of the interahamwe rebels in Congo remains a security threat.
Maj. Gen. Kagame denied reports that Rwanda is backing M23 rebels in DR Congo. “I head the division (of Rwanda Defence Forces) that borders DR Congo but what is being said that we are backing M23 rebels are mere accusations, this is a conflict between Congolese themselves,” he added.
The officers also deliberated on illegal immigrants to the two countries, terrorism and illegal trade. They will be meeting after every four months to share information on these issues and plan for action.
ADF and Interahamwe
The ADF is a rebel group opposed to the Uganda government and based in DR Congo. It began as a minor group in the forested Ruwenzori range along the Uganda and DR Congo border in 1996.
It is largely made up of Muslims of Tabliq sect and said to be recruiting from central region. In 1998, ADF carried out heinous acts in western Uganda districts of Kasese and Kabarole, including killing of 80 students of Kicwamba Technical Institute and abducting another 30.
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organisation, blamed for carrying out the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsis. They fled the country and settled in DR Congo when the RPF captured power. Rwanda says the militia is bent on destabilising the country and overthrowing the government.
