Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Leaders Of Rwandan Rebel Militia Arrested

Leaders Of Rwandan Rebel Militia Arrested For Atrocities Committed In DR Congo – UN

New York, Nov 19 2009 10:10AM The top United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today welcomed the arrest of two leaders of a rebel Rwandan militia on suspicion of carrying out crimes against humanity and war crimes in the eastern region of the DRC.

The two men, Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, who are thought to be high-ranking members of the ethnic Hutu rebel Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), were taken into custody by German authorities on Tuesday.

“This is an important development, which we believe will help the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region move to a more peaceful future,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Alan Doss.

“I would urge other nations where FDLR leaders are sheltering, to follow Germany's example,” added Mr. Doss, who also heads the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUC.

The nearly 19,000 strong MONUC force, set up in 2000 to help restore peace after years of multiple civil wars, has been supporting the DRC national army in its efforts to flush out the FDLR rebels who have been operating in the east of the country since the end of 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda.

The arrests are in line with Security Council resolutions calling for UN Member States to take action against leaders who are known to be supporting FDLR commanders in eastern DRC, where an estimated 1.7 million remain homeless due to violence in North and South Kivu with over 400,000 of them fleeing their homes since January.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.