Death of Wilson Irategeka, Key Figure in Rwanda’s CNRD

Lt Gen Laurent Ndagijimana, alias Wilson Irategeka or Rumbago, the political chief of the combatants of the National Council for the Democratic Renewal (CNRD), is believed to have died from his injuries. In any case, this is the information provided by multiple sources in Mwenga, located in the southern region of South Kivu Province.

It is accurate to conclude that the operational capacity of the FLN Rwanda rebel movement has been significantly diminished.

Today, in the Lwindi chiefdom, more than 100 CNRD combatants, a dissident group from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and their dependents arrived in the afternoon at Ishungwe, near the Zokwe river. They were part of a Kigogo group.

Among them are sick children and women. It is possible that they are unwell as a result of the distance they have travelled in the Congolese forests from north to south.

In fact, for several months, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have been tracking down Rwandan rebel groups.

Operations commenced in the Kalehe region. Since that time, a number of combatants and their dependents have fled the area via the forest in order to evade the Congolese National Army. They traversed a number of territories, including Kabare, Walungu and Mwenga in South Kivu.

Based on their accounts, it took them approximately one month to reach Nyamaleke (Mwenga) from Kitindiro and other locations in Kalehe. This period spanned from 28 November to 23 December of the previous year.

Their final objective was to reach Kilembwe and Lulimba in Fizi territory, where they planned to join up with other members of their group and organise the sending of Paul Kagame.

A life of brainwashing operations in Congolese forests

On-site in Luindi’s chiefdom, the CNRDs can now be counted at your fingertips. Furthermore, they have indicated their willingness to be repatriated to their country of origin, Rwanda.

Some of the group have relatives already settled in the country of a thousand hills. They are reluctant to remain in the Congolese forests, particularly given the relatively small size of the group, which numbers no more than 200.

We met Patrice, who is approximately 25 years of age. He states that he has resided in the forest for his entire life, in locations including Masisi, Walikale, Lubero and Rutshuru (North Kivu), Kalehe and Mwenga (South Kivu). He stated that he was unaware of the rationale behind the conflict, but was informed that the objective was to engage in combat with Kagame and liberate Rwanda.

Subsequently, Patrice came to recognise that the conflict was progressing in a futile manner. He invested a significant amount of time in this endeavour, which ultimately proved to be unproductive.

It is not advisable to continue running at this time. I observe the unfortunate demise of individuals on a daily basis. “I have witnessed the loss of an entire generation in the Congolese forests since I was born,” he laments, having spent at least five years in a class in primary school due to the wars, which forced him to flee repeatedly and thus disrupt his studies.

Nevertheless, he acknowledges that it is only their leaders who truly understand their objectives. He clarifies that the destination was not disclosed to any combatant in advance, except to their leaders.

There has been a complete reduction in both human and operational capacity

In their testimony, these combatants and their dependents state that certain combatants and leaders have lost their lives in these confrontations.

By way of illustration, we may cite the case of their political leader, Willson Irategeka. One of the combatants who was acquainted with him states that he was unable to contact Nyamaleke after sustaining injuries in Kasika, which is still within Mwenga territory.

“He sustained injuries in clashes with the FARDC.” “It was when we saw that he did not join us that we immediately understood that he had died,” he states with certainty.

The FARDC ensured that all combatants were treated humanely

In response to queries regarding his motivation for pursuing a military career and his apprehensions about the potential for fatality, Patrice indicated that he has received encouraging responses from those within the military.

Additionally, he discloses that a number of them have capitulated, and there is information indicating that they are not being mistreated by government troops. His colleagues were repatriated to Rwanda, along with over 2,000 other returnees, in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Patrice has expressed a desire to return to Rwanda, although he is uncertain as to whether his wife has been repatriated. He aspires to a conventional lifestyle, pursuing gainful employment that will enable him to live a comfortable life with his family.

He expresses a strong desire for this outcome and urges other Rwandan armed groups, such as the FDLR, to participate in the voluntary repatriation programme before circumstances become more challenging for them.

Joram Jojo