Consequences of the MONUSCO and FARDC Action in the DRC

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) joined forces to expel or neutralize all the negative forces in DRC territory. The action has heavy consequences in neighboring countries and on the economic blocs of the region, an expert in security affairs reports.-By J.BerchmansSiboniyo

Gerard Birantamije: “The hunt …does not solve the problem but only results in delocalization.” ©Iwacu

“The hunt forso-called negative forces in the DR Congo does not solve the problem but only results in delocalization”, states Gerard Birantamije, an expert in security affairs. Birantamijeexplains thatsome of the militants being chased escape, and flee with their weapons to search for refuge in neighboring countries. These armed militants need food and other basic items, which they acquire by force from the local populations, as the governments will not provide for them.Birantamije says the action may destabilize the countries where the armed forces arrive from.The assertion of the expert is confirmed by Colonel Gaspard Baratuza, the Spokesman of the Burundi National Army. He indicates that since the action of MONUSCO and FARDC against the negative forces in DRC and the declaration of Jean Felix Nkurikiye, the Spokesman of AloysNzabampema’s FNL that they are not going to lay down weapons or give themselves up,Burundi’s national army has increased vigilance against any infiltrating elements from the DRC. He indicates that they are ready to neutralize them, “as we did for the other group in Cibitoke three weeks ago”, he proudly says.
Pierre Nkurikiye, the Deputy of the Spokesman of the Burundi national police indicates that security forces are paying much attention to any disturbance of the interior security especially now that the FNL and FDLR rebels of Burundi and Rwanda, respectively, are being chased.
The expert indicates that the action may also tarnish the relationship between the countries of both the sub-region and the region. “There may be suspicion between the countries in the region. Governments may accuse one another of hosting security disturbing groups”, he says. He goes on to say that people may flee because they fear for their security. “The neighboring countries of the one where refugees are from have to prepare camps to receive them. This requires a considerable budget, which has not been planned for. Birantamije also indicates that the action in Congo may weaken economic cooperation in the region like the East African Community or Economic Community of the countries of the Great Lakes (CEPGL). “When there is suspicion between member states of these economic blocs, projects may not be well accomplished in the blocs”, he states.
Birantamije suggests that governments of the region may collaborate to carry out the action against the negative forces, saying that it is like causing insecurity in the neighboring countries when a single government wages a war against the negative forces.