Kinshasa, 5 January 2015 – “The joint operation FARDC-MONUSCO against FNL is a strong signal for all armed groups, including the FDLR: the only way toward peace is through voluntary disarmament,” recalled Martin Kobler.

FARDC troops backed by MONUSCO’s attack helicopters and the Force Intervention Brigade took control of the FNL main bases in Ruhoha, 25 km east of Uvira in South Kivu province.

“We are prepared to fight all armed groups and protect civilians. This military success clearly shows FARDC and MONUSCO’s capacities to conduct joint actions and their common determination to neutralize all armed groups,” highlighted Major General Jean Baillaud, MONUSCO Force Commander ad interim.

The joint offensive led by FARDC and MONUSCO intervention brigade is part of the operation codenamed “Kamilisha Usalama II”, initiated in late 2014 with a view to disarming the armed groups operating in the Ruzizi plain and the nearby areas.

Note to readers:

The “Front National de Libération” (FNL) is a Burundian armed group active in Uvira territory, which continues to pose unacceptable threat to the security and stability in the eastern DRC and whose neutralization is of paramount importance for MONUSCO and FARDC to ensure the security of the civilian population in South Kivu.