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Rwanda, DR Congo seek repatriation of former M23 Congolese rebels

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Officials from Rwanda and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo have stressed the urgent need to solve problems posed by the presence of some 718 former combatants of M23 rebels exiled in Rwanda, an official source revealed Tuesday.

In a joint statement issued to wind a meeting here Tuesday, the two governments also pledged to voluntarily repatriate and resettle them in their countries of origin "as soon as possible".

Rwanda hosts a total of 718 former combatants of M23 insurgents, who fled their former base in Eastern Democratic of Congo (DRC) after the rebel group had split into two factions.

It is said these Congolese rebels [in Rwanda] were relocated to another camp located at a reasonable distance from the Rwandan- Congolese border, in order to ensure their safety and protection.

Those who fled to Rwanda arrived in late March 2013 and the majority among them belonged to one of the factions loyal to the old M23 political leader of the Congolese rebel movement, Jean- Marie Runiga Lugerero, who is currently seeking asylum in the East African nation.

The two delegations took into account the tripartite agreement their governments signed in late 2013 in Nairobi under the mediation of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to facilitate the repatriation and reintegration of former congolese combatants in their respective country.

However, despite having received amnesty promulgated by the Congolese president Joseph Kabila, a large majority of these formet combatants of M23 are still reluctants to join the voluntary repatriation as the large majority among them are still scattered in various refugee settlements in Uganda and Rwanda.

During the triopartite meeting that took place in Kigali, the officials welcomed the amnesty granted to the former rebel fighters of M23, saying the move "has created conducive conditions for launching this vital step in enhancing peace and security in the sub-region.

"Meanwhile, the two parties agreed to establish a joint technical committee to promote an exchange of experiences and facilitate the resolution of common problems in the repatriation process, the statement said.

M23 rebel group, then known as the National Congress for the People's Defence, also claimed that its servicemen should be given their present ranks after their integration into the Congolese military. Endi