The Congolese Army denies  alleged infiltration by Rwandan rebels “FDLR” (Press release)

Kinshasa, July 27^th, 2025 (CPA). – The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have,  in a communiqué consulted on Saturday, denied the infiltration of alleged rebels from the « Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda » (FDLR) trained and equipped in Burundi to commit massacres against the ‘Banyamulenge’ population in the east of the country. « The MRDP-Twirwaneho armed group operating in the highlands of Fizi warns of the infiltration of alleged FDLR trained and equipped in Burundi to commit large-scale and targeted massacres against the Banyamulenge population,” it is read in the communiqué signed by Major General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the FARDC. « For the FARDC, these allegations are completely unfounded and (constitute) a desperate attempt to alienate national and international opinion and sabotage the efforts undertaken as part of the Washington and Doha peace processes, » the source has added. However, the statement has specified that the FARDC has cross-checked and verified information about a planned massacre of the Banyamulenge population of Minembwe in Sud-Kivu by the Twirwaneho armed group, in collusion with the Red Tabara movement, which is also active in the region. ‘The planning of this pogrom is intended to create an outcry and blame the Congolese and Burundian governments through their defence and security forces,’ the statement has indicated. The statement also said that the FARDC has cross-checked and verified information about a planned massacre of the Banyamulenge population of Minembwe in Sud-Kivu by the Twirwaneho armed group, in collusion with the Red Tabara movement, which is also active in the region.  « The purpose of planning this pogrom is to create an outcry and blame the Congolese and Burundian governments through their defence and security forces, » the statement has indicated. In response to this situation, the FARDC have also denounced and condemned the criminal appetites of these forces of evil and their tendency to undermine efforts to restore peace in eastern DRC.  Twirwaneho is an armed group active in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the province of Sud-Kivu. The group is made up of former members of the rebellion of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), who have joined the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) before rebelling against the Government. According to a recent report by the UN Panel of Experts, the Twirwaneho are also accused of collaborating with the AFC/M23, supported by Rwanda.  CPA/C.L.