The United Nations Security Council met on Friday, February 21st. They all agreed that the fighting in eastern DR Congo could not be solved just by using weapons and soldiers. The Council is upset that the government of DR Congo keeps helping a dangerous group called the FDLR. This group wants to attack Rwanda and hurt many people.
Rwanda's representative at the UN, Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo, spoke at the meeting. He said it is very important for the Security Council to understand the real reasons why there are so many problems in eastern DR Congo. He explained that Rwanda is worried about its safety because of the FDLR and similar groups. Ambassador Rwamucyo believes that any plan to bring peace will not work unless it takes Rwanda's concerns seriously.
He said the government of DR Congo must stop protecting the FDLR. He accused DR Congo of letting FDLR members join its army, giving them powerful weapons, and treating them like friends instead of enemies.
The FDLR is a very bad group. It was started by people who led the terrible Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. After they were defeated, these people ran away to DR Congo, which used to be called Zaire. They brought their weapons with them. Later, they came together and called themselves the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda, or ALIR for short. They changed their name to FDLR in the year 2000 to try and hide their past crimes.
The Security Council told a different rebel group called AFC/M23 that it must stop fighting immediately. They said the rebels must leave the cities of Goma and Bukavu and all the other places they control. The Council wants the rebels to undo any new governments they have set up in DR Congo. However, the very next day, on Saturday, over 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers decided to join the AFC/M23 rebels in Bukavu.
The Congolese army, which is called FARDC, has lost many battles against AFC/M23 since January. FARDC works with soldiers from other countries like Burundi and South Africa, as well as United Nations peacekeepers. Some people from Europe are even paid to fight alongside FARDC. The FDLR and local Congolese groups are also helping FARDC in the war.
On January 27th, after FARDC broke a ceasefire agreement and caused heavy fighting, the AFC/M23 rebels captured the city of Goma. The rebels tried to make Goma safe and peaceful. Later, when there were reports of violence and stealing in South Kivu, the rebels moved to take control of Kavumu airport. On February 15th, they captured the city of Bukavu. Many people in Bukavu had asked the rebels to come and protect them.
Rwanda's representative at the UN, Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo, spoke at the meeting. He said it is very important for the Security Council to understand the real reasons why there are so many problems in eastern DR Congo. He explained that Rwanda is worried about its safety because of the FDLR and similar groups. Ambassador Rwamucyo believes that any plan to bring peace will not work unless it takes Rwanda's concerns seriously.
He said the government of DR Congo must stop protecting the FDLR. He accused DR Congo of letting FDLR members join its army, giving them powerful weapons, and treating them like friends instead of enemies.
The FDLR is a very bad group. It was started by people who led the terrible Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. After they were defeated, these people ran away to DR Congo, which used to be called Zaire. They brought their weapons with them. Later, they came together and called themselves the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda, or ALIR for short. They changed their name to FDLR in the year 2000 to try and hide their past crimes.
The Security Council told a different rebel group called AFC/M23 that it must stop fighting immediately. They said the rebels must leave the cities of Goma and Bukavu and all the other places they control. The Council wants the rebels to undo any new governments they have set up in DR Congo. However, the very next day, on Saturday, over 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers decided to join the AFC/M23 rebels in Bukavu.
The Congolese army, which is called FARDC, has lost many battles against AFC/M23 since January. FARDC works with soldiers from other countries like Burundi and South Africa, as well as United Nations peacekeepers. Some people from Europe are even paid to fight alongside FARDC. The FDLR and local Congolese groups are also helping FARDC in the war.
On January 27th, after FARDC broke a ceasefire agreement and caused heavy fighting, the AFC/M23 rebels captured the city of Goma. The rebels tried to make Goma safe and peaceful. Later, when there were reports of violence and stealing in South Kivu, the rebels moved to take control of Kavumu airport. On February 15th, they captured the city of Bukavu. Many people in Bukavu had asked the rebels to come and protect them.
