Goma, 28 July 2011 - The Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reintegration, and Resettlement (DDR/RR) Section of MONUSCO in collaboration with Internews Network based in Rwanda has launched on July 22, 2011a two-month video sensitization campaign across strategic locations in eastern DR Congo targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the FDLR. The objective of this initiative is to reduce to the minimum the number of foreign armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo.

The joint team embarked on the screening of various sensitization video films which contain the processes of voluntary Disarmament and Repatriation, and the packages foreign combatants will benefit if they surrender to MONUSCO. The films also explain and show the field extraction procedures, the facilities offered to ex-combatants in the DRC by MONUSCO, and the demobilization and reintegration packages available in Rwanda. Additionally, some aspects of the films show ex-combatants including ex-child soldiers who have returned to Rwanda in peace and dignity. Success stories of some ex-combatants are also highlighted in the various films.

The sensitization campaign was launched in Masisi town on a market day in the center of one of the areas the wives and sympathizers of FDLR combatants frequently visit especially on market days to buy their basic needs and sell goods, and so launching the campaign on this day serves as a bait to effectively reach our clients who are usually in remote locations in the forest.

Nearly 500 people including residents, Rwandan refugees, suspected wives of FDLR combatants and their sympathizers turned out en mass to see for the first time some of their compatriots who have returned and doing well in Rwanda. The films were shown on a giant screen. "Seeing is believing" one of the viewers said to us. He added that this concept of sensitization is likely to yield positive results because according to him, "it shows the real life of an ex-combatant after the forest of the DR Congo".

Sensitization leaflets which also outline the opportunities that exist in the DRC and Rwanda for FDLR ex-combatants and their dependents were distributed during the campaign.

Similar campaign was conducted in Nyabyondo and Kashebere in the Masisi territory where about 600 people including Congolese wives of FDLR combatants and Rwandan refugees turned out.

Sam Howard/MONUSCO